Two Road Workers Hit On Florida Turnpike
POSTED: Monday, April 4, 2005
On the day the Florida Department of Transportation announced a year-long campaign to warn motorists of the dangers of reckless driving through highway work zones, two construction workers installing guard rails along the Florida Turnpike were struck by an car.
The Florida Highway Patrol reports that two workers hit Monday morning near the Orange-Lake County were airlifted to a hospital with critical injuries.Troopers say the cause of the crash is under investigation, and traffic was backed up in both directions from the scene.At a Tallahassee press conference, FDOT, the FHP, the Federal Highway Administration, the American Traffic Safety Services Association, the Florida Sheriff's Association, the Florida Police Chiefs Association and several other state and national transportation organizations were to announced: "Work Zone Safety. It's Everyone's Job," a campaign to reduce crashes, injuries and fatalities in highway work zones.In 2003, the most recent traffic crash data for Florida, 104 fatalities and 3,607 injuries occurred in 3,509 crashes in highway work zones. Although highway construction remains one of the most dangerous jobs in America, nine out of ten persons killed in highway work zones in Florida are motorists or pedestrians."For their own safety and the safety of construction workers, motorists need to drive carefully through work zones," said FDOT Assistant Secretary Kevin Thibault. "It's everyone's job to play an active role in raising driver awareness when entering work zones to increase safety for workers, motorists and pedestrians."During the campaign, FDOT and its partners will enhance public awareness about work zone safety and increase law enforcement presence in work zones. Specifically, FHP will continue "Operation Hardhat," a traffic safety program that features troopers disguised as construction workers to catch unsuspecting speeders."Florida Highway Patrol will be cooperating with FDOT implementing enforcement details in work zones," FHP Director Colonel Chris Knight said. "Through this partnership, working and driving in Florida's work zones will be safer than ever before."For more information about the work zone safety campaign or current road construction projects in the area, visit ItsEveryonesJob.com.
The Florida Highway Patrol reports that two workers hit Monday morning near the Orange-Lake County were airlifted to a hospital with critical injuries.Troopers say the cause of the crash is under investigation, and traffic was backed up in both directions from the scene.At a Tallahassee press conference, FDOT, the FHP, the Federal Highway Administration, the American Traffic Safety Services Association, the Florida Sheriff's Association, the Florida Police Chiefs Association and several other state and national transportation organizations were to announced: "Work Zone Safety. It's Everyone's Job," a campaign to reduce crashes, injuries and fatalities in highway work zones.In 2003, the most recent traffic crash data for Florida, 104 fatalities and 3,607 injuries occurred in 3,509 crashes in highway work zones. Although highway construction remains one of the most dangerous jobs in America, nine out of ten persons killed in highway work zones in Florida are motorists or pedestrians."For their own safety and the safety of construction workers, motorists need to drive carefully through work zones," said FDOT Assistant Secretary Kevin Thibault. "It's everyone's job to play an active role in raising driver awareness when entering work zones to increase safety for workers, motorists and pedestrians."During the campaign, FDOT and its partners will enhance public awareness about work zone safety and increase law enforcement presence in work zones. Specifically, FHP will continue "Operation Hardhat," a traffic safety program that features troopers disguised as construction workers to catch unsuspecting speeders."Florida Highway Patrol will be cooperating with FDOT implementing enforcement details in work zones," FHP Director Colonel Chris Knight said. "Through this partnership, working and driving in Florida's work zones will be safer than ever before."For more information about the work zone safety campaign or current road construction projects in the area, visit ItsEveryonesJob.com.Copyright 2004 by JustNews.com. The Associated Press contributed to this report. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
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