Message Monday - Invest in work zone safety - patience pays
You’ve probably heard over and over again that “time is money.” So, if that’s true and time really is money, what will a few minutes cost you?
If you’re speeding in a work zone, fines are doubled and you might get a hefty ticket with a fine of up to $1,000. An even higher cost could come if you crash and end up in the hospital, or worse yet, the cemetery.
Last year 10 people were killed in crashes in work zones. Seven motorists and three construction workers will never again read a bedtime story or attend a family dinner.
On average, 200 crashes occur in Iowa work zones every year. Of those, 75 percent are rear-end crashes. Rear end crashes happen when people are following too closely, not paying attention, or speeding.
Invest in safety. Slow down, pay attention, and watch for your friends, neighbors and family members who proudly wear safety vests while making Iowa road better for all of us. Do you or a loved one wear a safety vest as part of your work life? We are raising awareness on social media this week about the importance of safety for those who work on or around the roadway. Join in the awareness, by uploading a picture in a safety vest to your favorite social media channel with the hashtag #investedinsafety
Here’s a link to a KCRG story from last summer about record work zone fatalities - http://www.kcrg.com/content/news/Iowa-DOT-sees-increase-in-the-percentage-of-work-zone-related-deaths--439231603.html
For 2018, there have been 66 fatalities reported. That’s an increase of six since last Monday. To see statistics published daily by the Office of Driver Services, go to the daily fatality report at https://www.iowadot.gov/mvd/stats/daily.pdf