'Don't be on the phone, don't be eating:' DOT urges caution in work zones
Roads under construction are easy to find in North Carolina but although they're clearly marked, more than 50 percent of work zone crashes are caused by speeding and distracted driving.
Posted — Updated“These are prime examples,” said Steve Abbott with the North Carolina DOT. “Basically, they are unprotected workers on the road.”
Abbott said the full list of injuries to DOT workers is, tragically, much longer than the two recent events.
“It shows the dangers for the workers and the passengers and drivers of cars going by work zones,” he said.
A recent study by the Associated General Contractors of America shows 43 percent of contractors in the state reported crashes in their work zones in the past year.
Last year, 19 people died in work zone crashes in North Carolina and three of those people were construction workers.
So far this year, 10 people have died in similar accident and two were workers.
“Don’t be on the phone, don’t be eating. Two hands on the wheel, watch very carefully,” Abbott said.
Another important tip is to slow down, especially as the summer travel season gets underway.
“A lot more people are out driving. It’s very dangerous if they are not careful,” Abbott said.
Last month, Gov. Pat McCrory issued a proclamation urging drivers to use caution in work zones.
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