PennDOT Releases New Video for National Work Zone Awareness Week

Young Drivers Encouraged to 'Just Drive: Work Zone Smart'

CARLISLE, Pa., April 15, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- To mark the start of National Work Zone Awareness Week, PennDOT Deputy Secretary for Administration Bradley L. Mallory today joined school officials and students at Carlisle High School to unveil a new video called "Just Drive: Work Zone Smart," PennDOT's latest effort to encourage work zone safety.

National Work Zone Awareness Week runs April 15 through April 19.      

The video aims to educate young drivers on the importance of obeying work zone laws, staying alert and avoiding distractions while driving. The video also offers work zone safety tips and a look at the dangers highway workers face in work zones every day. Although geared to young drivers, the video also serves as a refresher for experienced drivers.

"Driving is a huge responsibility and that responsibility increases in work zones," Mallory said. "It's important that all drivers, particularly teens, know how potentially dangerous driving can be, and that their lives and the lives of highway workers are in their hands when traveling in work zones."

The video is available to anyone to download for free at www.JustDrivePA.org.

The video will be distributed to schools electronically and will be referenced in PennDOT's Driver's Manual.

The video gives a unique perspective of a motorist's role in keeping our highways safe. The idea for the video came from PennDOT employee, Lonnie Lloyd. PennDOT has an aggressive employee suggestion system in place that encourages employees to offer their ideas for how to improve services.

According to PennDOT data, in 2012 there were more than 1,600 crashes in Pennsylvania work zones, with 21 people killed in those crashes – including three highway workers.

PennDOT reminds all drivers to pay close attention to flaggers and signs. Motorists should maintain a safe distance around vehicles and use four-way flashers when stopped or traveling slowly. Drivers are also reminded to turn on their headlights in posted work zones. Driving without headlights in an active work zone can result in a $25 fine if a motorist is stopped and cited for another violation.

Pennsylvania law states that motorists caught driving 11 mph or more above the posted speed limit in active work zones, or who are involved in a crash in an active work zone and are convicted for failing to drive at a safe speed, automatically will lose their license for 15 days. The law also doubles the fines for certain traffic violations, such as speeding and driving under the influence, if they occur in an active work zone.

For more information on work zone safety or to watch the "Just Drive: Work Zone Smart" video, visit www.JustDrivePA.org.

Media contact: Jamie Legenos, 717-783-8800

SOURCE Pennsylvania Department of Transportation