National Work Zone Awareness Week 2014
Dallas, TX (PRWEB) April 08, 2014 -- The National Work Zone Awareness Week is an annual event that helps build awareness in the areas of highway work zone safety. This year’s event is scheduled for April 7-11, 2014, with the national “kick off” event scheduled for Tuesday, April 8th, in Washington State . Expectations are that several high-level transportation officials will attend the event.
The composition of the NWZAW Executive Committee includes the FHWA, ATSSA, AASHTO, ARTBA, AGC, Va.-DOT, Md. DOT, and D.C.-DOT. Since the organization first began, nearly every state throughout the United States has joined the cause.
During the first eight years it was in operation, National Work Zone Awareness Week alternated between Maryland, the District of Columbia, and Virginia. After being in operation for that initial eight years, the Executive Committee made the decision to turn this event into a real national event by kicking off the event in other states. In 2008 California became the first state to step on the bandwagon, although it still returns to those areas of origin on a regular basis.
One of the major problems is that drivers do not fully understand the risk of driving in a work zone (road construction zone). The statistics surrounding work zone injuries in Washington State alone should demonstrate the need for more awareness:
- An average of 1,000 highway work zone injuries occur every year.
- Rear-end collisions are the cause of most work zone accidents which result in injuries and deaths.
- A driver’s lack of attention renders him or her unprepared for the sudden need to stop or the need to change lanes when approaching work zones.
Driving in work zones can be dangerous even for the most attentive driver. However, attorney Jeff Rasansky would like to share some things a driver can do in order to reduce the risk of a car accident, such as the following:
- Reduce speed and only travel within the posted speed limit.
- Pay close attention when traveling in work zones.
- Don’t wait until the last minute to merge into another lane.
- Plan for delays by leaving earlier or using an alternate route whenever possible.
Work Zone Problems in Dallas, Texas
There is a great deal of work constantly underway on the highways in Dallas, Fort Worth, and the entire DFW Metroplex. This makes it essential for all DFW drivers to fully understand the risks of driving within those work zones and most importantly, how to prepare themselves ahead of time. Many people wait until the last minute to leave for work and other time-sensitive events instead of planning ahead of time in case of delays. The few extra minutes you save by leaving earlier or taking an alternate route could save your life.
Attorney Jeff Rasansky
Rasansky Law Firm
2525 McKinnon Street #625
Dallas, Texas 75201
214-651-6100 / 877-405-4313
Jeff Rasansky, Rasansky Law Firm, http://www.jrlawfirm.com/, +1 2146516100, [email protected]
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