26-04-2025
National Work Zone Safety Awareness Week: G DOT bringing awarness around safer work zones
AUGUSTA, Ga. (WJBF) – This week is National Work Zone Safety Awareness Week. Georgia Department of Transportation is working with other transportation departments nationwide to bring awareness to safer driving in work zones.
The CSRA knows its fair share of road work zones, and G-DOT wants to use this week to highlight the safety of those construction zones.
As we head into the spring and summer months, more workers will work on Georgia's roads for maintenance or construction. This year, G-DOT has a theme it wants you to remember to help keep you and those construction workers safe.
'There's actually a slogan for this year's campaign. Respect the zone so we all get home. And that sums it up really well,' said Will Volk, District 2 Communications Specialist, Georgia DOT.
G-DOT says work zone safety is a shared responsibility. They hope the slogan reminds drivers to slow down, not be distracted, and pay attention to any construction or maintenance workers, first responders, Highway Emergency Response Operators, Coordinated Highway Assistance & Maintenance Program, or tow truck drivers.
'Do not speed through these work zones because they're just out there. They could have to go into the travel lane at some point to do this work, and if it pops out and you're going too fast, you might not have enough time to react. The same thing goes for distracted driving,' said Volk.
'We may have about five, six signs out. Big arrow board, but a lot of times they really don't see it, and that's because they are a little distracted,' said Tarrod Jackson, Forman, Routine Maintenance in Richmond County, Georgia DOT. ' So, we ask that everybody be aware of us on the road. We are performing a public service and want to see our families at the end of the day too.'
In 2024, there were 12,345 work zone-related crashes in Georgia, which resulted in over 4500 injuries, 11 fatalities involving motor vehicles, and 7 pedestrian fatalities.
'People have been injured. People have died, unfortunately before here in Georgia. We don't want that to happen. The target is zero deaths, and we just need everybody to, you know, work with us,' said Volk.
As you enter a work zone, stay alert and prepared for any circumstance you may encounter. Just like you, these workers are trying to get home to their families.
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