Embrace the Orange! See Orange. Slow Down. Save Lives!

The National Work Zone Awareness Week will be observed, April 15-19,2013. During this week, IDOT, along with other Illinois Strategic Highway Safety Plan (ISHSP) Partners, will be holding multiple events statewide to raise awareness on work zone safety and two new distracted driving laws.  January 1, 2010, two new distracted driving laws went into effect. It is now illegal for drivers to talk on a cell phone while traveling through a highway construction work zone or school zone. Drivers are now also prohibited from emailing, texting or surfing the internet while driving on all Illinois roadways. Fines start at $75 for either offense.

On Monday, April 15, 2013  Illinois Work Zone Safety Partners will be distributing work zone literature to their employees.

On Monday, April 15, 2013 the Work Zone Memorial representing the 19 lives lost in 2012 work zone crashes will be on display at the IDOT Harry Hanley building in the first floor lobby.

Press conferences will be held throughout the state to raise motorists’ awareness and urge them to be alert and slow down in work zones.  Also, Illinois Road and Transportation Builders Association (IRTBA) and other Illinois Safety Partners are planning an informal media appearance in Chicago at the local ABC, CBS, NBC and Fox studios. The Illinois Safety Partners will be outside the studios wearing green reflective vests in an effort to raise awareness for the motoring public about National Work Zone Awareness Week.

On Friday, April 19, 2013 Various Rest Areas throughout the state will have displays set up to promote and distribute work zone safety awareness information to highway motorists.

To view the Illinois Strategic Highway Safety Plan (ISHSP) and additional safety information, go to:

http://www.dot.il.gov/IllinoisSHSP/hsip.html