Recently, Texas Transportation Commissioners approved more than $253.1 million for construction projects statewide, with more than $28.3 million approved for the Lufkin District. Last week, crews performed overnight mill and inlay work on state Highway 94 at the loop.
That’s why this is the time of year when the Texas Department of Transportation tries to bring awareness to distracted driving and work zones by asking motorists to slow down and stay alert when driving through them to protect themselves and others.
In 2021, traffic crashes in the state’s work zones claimed the lives of 244 people — a 33% increase over the previous year, according to TxDOT statistics. Drivers and their passengers accounted for the majority of those who died in work zone crashes statewide last year, but 195 motorists or vehicle passengers also were killed, along with 38 pedestrians, four bicyclists and three roadside construction workers. Speeding and driver inattention were among the leading causes of crashes.
In the nine-county Lufkin District, there were 172 traffic crashes in work zones, resulting in 11 fatalities and six serious injuries, according to Rhonda Oaks, public information officer for the district.
Distracted driving statistics are no better, Oaks said. Fatalities attributed to distracted driving increased 17% in 2021 compared to 2020.
“The grim facts are that 2,934 people died and another 431 were seriously injured because someone wasn’t paying attention,” she wrote in a recent column.
In the Lufkin District, distracted driving crashes totaled 615, resulting in eight fatalities and 46 serious injuries in 2021.
“It’s cause for tremendous concern that the number of people killed on our roadways reached a 40-year high last year and fatalities in our work zones rose dramatically,” said TxDOT executive director Marc Williams. “It’s important for drivers to remember that driving conditions in work zones can be especially challenging because of extra congestion, slow-moving heavy equipment, temporary barriers and vehicles that make sudden stops. That’s why it’s crucial for everyone to give driving their full attention and drive a safe speed in areas where construction and maintenance are underway.”
TxDOT offers these five tips for driving safely through a work zone:
1. Slow down. Follow the posted speed limit and adjust your driving to match road conditions.
2. Pay attention. Avoid distractions, keep your mind on the road and put your phone away.
3. Watch out for road crews. The only protective gear they wear is reflective clothing, a hard hat, and safety boots. Always follow flaggers’ instructions and be mindful of construction area road signs.
4. Don’t tailgate. Give yourself room to stop in a hurry, should you have a need. Rear-end collisions are the most common kind of work zone crashes.
5. Allow extra time. Road construction can slow things down. Count on it and plan for it.
Roadside safety extends to complying with the state’s Move Over/Slow Down law requiring drivers to move over a lane or reduce their speed to 20 mph below the posted speed limit when approaching a TxDOT vehicle, emergency vehicle, law enforcement, tow truck or utility vehicle stopped on the roadside with flashing lights activated.
Traffic fines double in work zones when workers are present and can cost up to $2,000, while failure to heed the Move Over/Slow Down law also can result in a $2,000 or more fine.
“If you have ever stood on the side of the road with vehicle problems, you know what it feels and sounds like to have vehicles rushing by you, knowing that tragedy is only inches away. Our workers feel that way every day,” Oaks said. “With only a barricade or orange cones separating them from moving traffic, they are vulnerable to distracted drivers or those who choose to speed through a work zone.”
Let’s all do our part to eliminate distractions and show a little courtesy when driving through these dangerous work zones.
Lufkin Daily News
