FRANKFORT, Ky. (April 3, 2017) – Focusing on the human aspect surrounding highway
work zone safety, the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC) launched its state work
zone safety campaign this week in conjunction with National Work Zone Awareness Week
(NWZAW), April 3-7. The 2017 national theme – Work Zone Safety Is In Your Hands –
reinforces the message that work zone safety is a shared responsibility for work
crew members and motorists.
“Kentucky transportation road crews risk their lives daily to build and maintain
bridges and roads across the Commonwealth so that we all can connect with people and
places that are important to us,” said Gov. Matt Bevin. “As a young man, I worked
for a state highway department and know about the dangers presented to men and women
doing their jobs in highway work zones. These public servants are fathers, husbands,
brothers, daughters and friends. Let’s all do our part to take precautions to make
sure these highway workers – real people with real lives – get home safely each
night.”
With roadway construction season kicking off in April across Kentucky, many
motorists will encounter at least one work zone in their daily commute. Although
highway work zones are high-risk sites for crew members, the lives of drivers and
their passengers are also on the line in a work zone. In fact, Federal Highway
Administration statistics indicate that motorists, not workers, are more at risk in
a work zone. In a typical five-day work week, an average of seven motorists and one
worker are killed around the nation in work zones. To help spread awareness, Gov.
Bevin signed a proclamation declaring April Work Zone Safety Month in Kentucky.
Real stories, real people
Last year, there were 674 work zone related crashes, 143 injuries and 10 fatalities
in Kentucky. To increase awareness of work zone safety and the lives affected by
preventable accidents, KYTC asked the public to support this year’s campaign through
sharing work zone stories. Retellings of near misses while working, losing loved
ones in work zones and observations of negligent driving behavior were featured in
several submissions. Each story stressed the risk of working in a work zone and the
lives at stake.
“When he died, a piece of me died also – a void that you can’t replace,” wrote Tonya
Ashby about her brother Kendale T. Ashby, who was hit by a car in 2014 while working
in an active highway work zone.
Kendale Ashby was a father of four, a husband, a brother and a best friend.
“The Cabinet is grateful for public support in the form of personal stories and
pledges from public and private partners to ‘Glow Orange’ to promote work zone
awareness,” said KYTC Secretary Greg Thomas. “The safety of our road crews and of
motorists in work zones is in each of our hands.”
Orange hues in the Bluegrass
Another element of KYTC’s 2017 work zone awareness campaign is “Glow Orange,
Kentucky” week, an initiative inspired by the national “Go Orange Day,” which also
promotes work zone awareness. KYTC has invited organizations and citizens throughout
the Commonwealth to illuminate buildings, landmarks, bridges, structures and homes
with the color orange to show support during the week of April 3-7.
The Cabinet encourages the public to submit “Glow Orange, Kentucky” safety selfies
taken in front of illuminated structures to Facebook and Twitter using #glowky.
Businesses and agencies that have pledged to “Glow Orange” are featured on KYTC’s
social media pages.
Lives in your hands
For the protection of all lives in work zones, KYTC asks drivers to practice 10 work
zone safety tips:
1. Pay attention – put away the phone.
2. Respect the posted speed limits – even if workers do not appear to be present.
3. Don’t tailgate.
4. Keep a safe distance from workers and equipment.
5. Expect the unexpected.
6. Obey road crew flaggers.
7. Allow extra time to get to your destination if traveling through a work zone.
8. Keep up with traffic flow.
9. Before leaving home or work, check out goky.ky.gov or use the free WAZE app
for traffic information.
10. Be patient and remain calm. Construction crews are working to make the roads
better for you.
Although Cabinet engineers and contractors schedule work to minimize delays and
crashes, the responsibility to drive cautiously through a work zone lies with
motorists.
To read work zone stories and stay current with KYTC’s 2017 work zone awareness
campaign, connect with the Cabinet at
www.facebook.com/kytc120/<http://links.govdelivery.com:80/track?type=click&enid=ZWFzPTEmbXNpZD0mYXVpZD0mbWFpbGluZ2lkPTIwMTcwNDAzLjcxODY4NzYxJm1lc3NhZ2VpZD1NREItUFJELUJVTC0yMDE3MDQwMy43MTg2ODc2MSZkYXRhYmFzZWlkPTEwMDEmc2VyaWFsPTE2OTE1MTA0JmVtYWlsaWQ9a2VpdGgudG9kZEBreS5nb3YmdXNlcmlkPWtlaXRoLnRvZGRAa3kuZ292JnRhcmdldGlkPSZmbD0mZXh0cmE9TXVsdGl2YXJpYXRlSWQ9JiYm&&&100&&&http://www.facebook.com/kytc120/>
and
https://twitter.com/KYTC<http://links.govdelivery.com:80/track?type=click&enid=ZWFzPTEmbXNpZD0mYXVpZD0mbWFpbGluZ2lkPTIwMTcwNDAzLjcxODY4NzYxJm1lc3NhZ2VpZD1NREItUFJELUJVTC0yMDE3MDQwMy43MTg2ODc2MSZkYXRhYmFzZWlkPTEwMDEmc2VyaWFsPTE2OTE1MTA0JmVtYWlsaWQ9a2VpdGgudG9kZEBreS5nb3YmdXNlcmlkPWtlaXRoLnRvZGRAa3kuZ292JnRhcmdldGlkPSZmbD0mZXh0cmE9TXVsdGl2YXJpYXRlSWQ9JiYm&&&101&&&https://twitter.com/KYTC>
and follow the #inyourhandsky and #glowky discussions. The Cabinet will post related
information to social media throughout the month of April.