Boston Car Accident Lawyer Blog
The state of Massachusetts is getting in on this year’s National Work Zone Awareness Week. According to Richard A. Davey with the Massachusetts Department of Transportaion (MassDOT), transportation officials with the Department are teaming up with Construction Industries of Massachusetts (CIM) leaders in Devens, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHSTA), the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), Massachusetts State Police Colonel Marian McGovern and Executive Office of Public Safety and Security (EOPSS) Secretary Mary Beth Heffernan to help push this campaign in the area.
The aims is to prevent work zone car accidents in Boston and elsewhere. This year’s event is taking place from the 23rd through the 27th of April. During this time safe driving advocates will be reaching out to drivers across the state asking them to have some compassion when traveling through Massachusetts’ work zones. Safe and responsible driving habits are one of the only ways to help keep both motorists and workers safe in these areas.
To help to make sure that drivers are being safe in these areas, there will be additional officers from the Massachusetts State Police at roughly 25 state highway work zones throughout the week.
Our Boston accident attorneys understand that there have been more than 70 accidents reported in our state’s work sites involving either a police cruiser or a state trooper. Officers in the state kicked off a new Work Zone Awareness program back in November and the program has already cited more than 3,000 drivers for speeding through our work zones. Another 400 were cited for not wearing seat belts and almost 100 more were cited for aggressive diving.
“Dedicated workers are building and maintaining the roads and bridges we rely on every day to get us where we need to go safely,” said Victor Mendez with the FWHA.
Secretary Davie adds that we’re entering the heart of the highway construction season. The sun is coming out, the weather is clearing up and workers are hitting our streets to help to improve our roadways for everyone. This is a time when drivers need to be reminded that construction zones come with an important warning: please slow down through work zones.
Both speeding and distracted driving has been proven to be two of the top causes of car accidents in these areas. These poor driving habits result in deadly consequences for motorists, law enforcement officials as well as public works employees. All drivers should slow sown, halt the distractions, avoid tailgating and keep an eye out for roadside workers when passing through these areas.
The Work Zone Awareness program that’s been working since November to help make these areas safer for workers has been funded through state and federal highway money. So far, the program has run up a tab of nearly $500,000 but has helped to save lives along the way.
If you, a friend or a loved one has been injured in an accident in Boston or elsewhere throughout the state, contact Boston Injury Lawyer Jeffrey S. Glassman to schedule a free and confidential appointment to discuss your rights. Call 877-617-5333.
More Blog Entries:
Kingston Car Accident Keeps Four Students from Class, Boston Car Accident Lawyer Blog, April 5, 2012
Car Accident in Quincy Lands Uninsured Motorist Behind Bars, Boston Car Accident Lawyer Blog, April 21, 2012