With the Fourth of July weekend approaching, PennDOT’s traveling Worker’s Memorial arrives in Indiana County this week. The display honoring PennDOT employees killed in the line of duty since 1970 will be at the District 10 headquarters along Oakland Avenue from Tuesday through Sunday.
The Memorial comprised of reflective vests and hardhats features the names of ninety employees killed in accidents while on the job, including two from District 10. Robert Greeley died in Jefferson County in 1982 and Ronald Porter in Butler County in 2003.
PennDOT says that last year, there were 1,216 reportable work zone crashes, 19 of them fatal. In the past five years in District 10, there have been 32 “intrusions”, defined as “anytime a motor vehicle enters a portion of the roadway that is closed for construction or maintenance activity.”
PennDOT has a list of safety tips for drivers in work zones:
- Drive the posted work zone speed limit.
- Stay alert and pay close attention to signs and flaggers.
- All motorists are required to travel with their headlights turned on in all posted work zones, not just active work zones. It is necessary for drivers in vehicles with daytime running lights to turn on their headlights on to activate their taillights.
- Maintain a safe distance around vehicles. Drivers may experience sudden stops or slow-downs leading up to or in work zones – be sure you have the space between you and the surrounding vehicles to react.
- Avoid distractions and give your full attention to the road.
- Always buckle up.
- Be patient.
Visit PennDOT.pa.gov/Safety for more work zone safety information.
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