Penn dot
SUNBURY – Construction zones are popping up across The Valley – and PennDOT hopes drivers are prepared to slow down. David Thompson is Community Relations Coordinator at PennDOT district 3-0. He says work zone safety is a serious issue.
“It is just really important for motorists to remain alert when they are approaching work zones,” Thompson said. “They need to drive at a safe and prudent speed and obey the work zone signs and flaggers… Last year we had 45 crashes in the district in work zones, and a couple fatalities as well. I think right now we have a real issue with people who are impatient, distracted, drowsy or impaired.”
Mindy Foresman, Transportation Construction Manager, says she can’t believe the way some people drive through work zones, “We know we are inconveniencing you, that is not our intent when we come out and fix the road. We are trying to make your life better, by the small inconvenience we are giving you right now. People get very angry when they have to wait. Please slow down. Please give us a break. Pay attention to the signs. Pay attention to the workers. If you are standing two-feet away from a 45-mile-an-hour car – that is very, very fast… and people don’t slow down.”
Thompson says motorists need to use caution and pay attention to signage. He says PennDOT does everything they can to make for safe work zones and motorists should do the same. (Codi Jade)