Motorists Urged to ‘Expect the
Unexpected’ in work zones this construction season in Illinois
Work Zone Safety Week Reminder: See Orange.
Slow Down. Save Lives.
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[March 26, 2015]
SPRINGFIELD
– The Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT), Illinois State
Police (ISP) and the Illinois Tollway were joined by their industry
partners today to kick off National Work Zone Awareness Week with a
reminder to all Illinois motorists: Expect the unexpected driving
through work zones. To signal the start of construction season and call
attention to the dangers of driving in work zones, Governor Bruce Rauner
has signed a proclamation designating this week as “Work Zone Safety
Week” in Illinois.
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“Construction season is underway. That means crews will be out
working on the roads, often times just a few feet away from
traffic,” said Acting Illinois Transportation Secretary Randy
Blankenhorn. “Please slow down and eliminate distractions while
driving through work zones. The rules are very simple: See orange.
Slow down. Save lives.”
The theme for this year’s National Work Zone Awareness Week is
“Expect the Unexpected.” Whenever motorists are traveling through
work zones, they need to be aware of sudden lane closures and
shifts, the presence of construction equipment, changing traffic
patterns and speeds, as well as a host of other factors that can
make work zones potentially dangerous places. More than 4,300 motor
vehicle crashes occur in Illinois work zones every year. Provisional
data shows that 29 people, including three workers, were killed in
Illinois work zone crashes in 2014.
![](http://archives.lincolndailynews.com/2015/Mar/26/images/ads/current/topflight_west_sda_101414.png) “Construction work zones can be hazardous to motorists and workers
alike,” said ISP Col. Mike Zerbonia. “Motorists should prepare for
the unexpected by reducing speed and staying focused on the road
ahead. Speeding and distracted driving in a work zone is a dangerous
offense with tragic consequences.”
Speed and inattentiveness are major contributors to work zone
crashes. Workers are not the only ones at risk, either. Statistics
show that approximately 90 percent of all work zone fatalities are
motorists.
This year, IDOT will be expanding on the Smart Work Zone technology
introduced last year. The system utilizes computers to relay travel
times via digital message boards in advance of an interstate work
zone so motorists are aware of any backups and can seek alternate
routes. Speed indicator boards will be deployed again this year to
increase awareness of work zone speed limits.
Illinois State Police also will continue to operate photo
enforcement vans as another measure to reduce speeds in work zones.
Signs are posted prior to motorists entering work zones where photo
enforcement vans are stationed, with a speed indicator board above
the van to give drivers one last chance to slow down.
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“With so much construction on the Illinois Tollway this year, it’s
important for drivers traveling in work zones to use caution at all
times,” said Illinois Tollway Executive Director Kristi Lafleur.
“Tollway customers can avoid surprises in work zones by planning
ahead and visiting our website for the latest project information
and tools to help plan your trip.”
Fines for speeding in work zones are $375 for first-time offenders
and $1,000 for a second offense, whether or not workers are present.
If workers are present, motorists can lose their driver’s license
for up to 90 days after a second violation. The penalty for hitting
a worker is a fine up to $10,000 and 14 years in prison.
In recent years, Illinois has adopted distracted driving laws that
prohibit the use of all hand-held electronic devices while driving
at all times, work zones included. The use of electronic
communications devices or any other electronic device, to text,
e-mail, compose, read or send electronic messages or access internet
sites while driving a motor vehicle also is prohibited.
Visit
www.embracetheorange.com to take the Work Zone Safety
Pledge and learn more about work zones. You can view IDOT’s work
zone safety public service announcements at
http://youtu.be/IrjB7WSZ7Zk
and
http://youtu.be/Ge4Z8ym3Eeg
[Illinois Department of
Transportation]
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