http://ozarkspub.vo.llnwd.net/o37/KSMU/audio/mp3/missouri-s-new-move-over-law-highlighted-work-zone-awareness-week_81287.mp3
Safety and rescue forces are gearing up for the statewide observance of National Work Zone Awareness Week, which starts Monday.
This year, safety experts will highlight Missouri’s “Move Over” law, which says when you approach any emergency vehicle with lights on stopped on the road, you must change lanes where possible and slow down, giving that emergency vehicle some extra room. This now includes MoDOT vehicles parked with amber and white lights flashing.
Consider these statistics from the Missouri Department of Transportation:
• In 2013, 8 people were killed in work zones, compared to 7 in 2012.
• Between 2009 and 2013, 53 people were killed and 2,781 people were injured—just in Missouri work zones.
• Since 2000, 16 MoDOT employees have been killed in the line of duty.
• The top contributing reason for work zone crashes in 2013 wasn’t driver inattention or driving too fast, although those were factors – the most common reason was drivers following too closely.
For more on how to say safe in a work zone, and to give feedback to MoDOT on its work zones, you can click here.