If you use your cell phone, eat, put on makeup or have road rage behind the wheel, you are a distracted driver – “Don’t Be THAT Driver.”
April 11-15, 2016 is National Work Zone Awareness Week, five days committed to challenging drivers to drive safe and undistracted through work zones. This year’s theme is “Don’t Be THAT Driver: Work on Safety. Get Home Safely. Every Day.” While this campaign has been widely successful in reducing the number of work zone fatalities since 2000, distracted drivers still fail to “Expect the Unexpected.”
OHC observers this week as a time to educate workers and employers on the importance of driving safely – especially through work zones. Below are three ways to drive safe and avoid crashes in work zones:
SLOW DOWN: Speeding is one of the leading causes of crashes in work zones. If you see highway construction ahead, slow the speed of your vehicle to drive safely through a work zone.
Stay alert: Four of five fatalities in work zones are drivers and passengers. Maintaining focus on the road should be the only concern of the driver. Pay attention to changes in speed limits or lane closures when driving through work zones. Staying alert can help you “Expect the Unexpected.”
Eliminate distractions: There are three main types of distractions for drivers, visual, manual and cognitive (Texting involves all three). The human brain can not efficiently perform multiple cognitive tasks at once – especially behind the wheel. Minimize distractions in your vehicle, and do not participate in activities that divert attention from the road.
OHC believes prevention is the cure. Please share this information to help spread the word about National Work Zone Awareness Week, and remember, Don’t Be THAT Driver.
