I can't do my job without working on or near a highway, and that means I'm working right next to cars traveling at highway speeds. It's because of Coleman and all other highway construction workers that Work Zone Awareness Week will be observed April 9-13 in Idaho. A news conference will be held at 11 a.m. Monday, April 9 in Boise to announce Work Zone Awareness Week. Work Zone Awareness Week is held nationally to remind motorists about the dangers of driving carelessly near highway construction zones. A vehicle traveling 60 miles per hour can cover 1,500 feet in 17 seconds.
Highway construction is on the rise around the nation, and so are work zone fatalities.
Ten years ago, work zone related accidents caused 680 deaths in the United States. That number jumped to 868 in 1999. While Idaho is fortunate to have a low rate of fatalities, steady growth in traffic and highway construction makes this safety message more important than ever. This effort to improve Idaho's highways, bridges and interstates benefits motorists who travel through the state. But it also makes work zone safety a higher priority.