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April 7, 2008

Heads up, motorists: It's work zone safety week

Today marks the beginning of National Work Zone Safety Awareness Week. Haven’t heard of it? Ask Angelo Baldinelli and Chester De Witt.

Last December, the two had just finished pothole work along Route 195 for the state’s Department of Transportation. They climbed into their truck to leave, but before they fastened their safety belts, they were rear-ended.

According to RIDOT, a driver on the highway had driven past another DOT truck, and cut left to accelerate past it. That’s when the driver struck Baldinelli and De Witt’s truck, lifting it on two wheels and into a Jersey barrier.

“It happened so fast,” De Witt said in a statement. “All I had time to do was turn the wheel and look in the mirror before the impact.”

De Witt and Baldinelli are sharing their story to bring attention to National Work Zone Safety Awareness Week, which aims to educate drivers about safe driving habits in work zones so that such an accident doesn’t happen again.

According to DOT, there are more than 1,000 a year in work zones across the country.

“Driver distraction, careless driving habits, and excessive speeds in work zones can be a deadly combination,” RIDOT Director Michael P. Lewis said in a statement.

“Whenever motorists see signs, cones and flashing lights marking a work zone, they should immediately reduce speed and refocus their attention to the situation in front of them. Literally, lives are at stake in those situations.”

RIDOT has the following tips to stay safe in work zones:

Posted by Brandie Jefferson  at 2:41 PM | Permalink

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