The state is reminding motorists to be attentive and avoid distractions as officials observe National Work Zone Awareness Week.
The Missouri Department of Transportation says there were nine work zone fatalities in the state last year, and 53 total since 2010. And of the drivers that crashed into MoDOT vehicles, more than a quarter of those accidents occurred in work zones. In fact, the number of such crashes more than doubled from 2013 to 2014.
Drivers and passengers are at even greater risk than highway workers. 85 percent of those killed in a work zone are drivers and/or passengers.
During a press conference Tuesday in Joplin, officials highlighted Work Zone Awareness Week and the start of the spring road repair season, officials urged motorists to stay alert, don’t speed, merge early and avoid distractions.
Officials also warn that not all work zones look alike. They can be moving operations, such as striping, patching or mowing, as well as short term, temporary lane closures for quick repairs or to remove debris.