April is Work Zone Awareness Month

Work zone injuries, on average, occur every nine minutes in the U.S. HEAR THIS STORY AND MORE SALEM-AREA NEWS FROM SALEM-NEWS.COM'S KEVIN HAYS ON OUR NEWS PARTNER NEWSRADIO 1190 KEX.

Photo By: Tim King

(SALEM) - April means spring is here and in Oregon and Washington it also means city, state, and county road construction projects are getting underway.

The Oregon and Washington Departments of Transportation along with the Oregon and Washington State Police want to remind drivers that this week is National Work Zone Awareness Week.

OSP spokesman Lt. Gregg Hastings says the goal of the program is to educate motorists about driving through construction zones and to provide them with tips to ensure the safety of both construction crews and drivers.

ODOT says that more than 400 work zone related crashes occur in Oregon each year.

In Washington, the number is 600.

Nationally more than 80 percent of highway work zone fatalities are drivers and their passengers. NOT construction workers.

More than 40 percent of work zone crashes happen in transition zones prior to work areas.

Highway construction is one of the most dangerous occupations in the United States.

The risk of death is seven times higher for highway workers than for an average worker.

Work zone survival tips:

Slow down, pay attention and stay calm. Work zones aren't there to personally inconvenience you; they're there to improve the roads for everyone

Merge as soon as possible, when directed. Motorists can help maintain traffic flow and posted speeds by moving to the appropriate lane at first notice of a merge sign

Some work zones—such as line painting, road patching, and mowing—are mobile. Just because you don't see the workers immediately after you see the warning signs does not mean they're not out there or that there are not changes to the roadway. Observe the posted signs until you see the one that says, "END ROAD WORK"

Try an alternate route. Visit www.tripcheck.com for construction information in Oregon and www.vastrek.org for construction information in Washington or call 511 in either state

Expect delays and plan for them! Leave early to reach your destination on time

Finally, remember that even if a work zone looks inactive, people, equipment and obstacles still may be present.