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See Orange. Slow Down. Save
Lives! |
The National Work
Zone Awareness Week will be observed, April 4-8, 2011. 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.
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On average, there are over 7,000 work zone motor vehicle crashes in Illinois
every year.
In 2010: 32 people died in work zones;
25 of those deaths were the drivers or passengers of vehicles;
3 were construction
workers, 2 were pedestrians and 2 were pedacyclists.
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On Monday, April 4, 2011 Illinois Work Zone Safety Partners will be
distributing work zone literature to their employees.
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 NBC and CBS 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 8, 2011 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/safety.html
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