Driving Safety Home: National Work Zone Awareness Week is coming

By Dallas Hammit / ADOT State Engineer

All around the country, state DOTs, along with our federal partners and various transportation associations, will all focus on work zone safety April 8-12.

That’s right: National Work Zone Awareness Week is almost upon us once again, and this year’s theme is “Drive Like You Work Here.”

Even for those of us who work at ADOT, it can be easy to slip into bad driving habits when we’re on the road. I hope that we can all take the time to examine our behaviors and decide that there’s no excuse to drive recklessly through work zones.

At ADOT, we all have to set a good example behind the wheel. With more than 1,000 employees who work in maintenance and construction projects on highways throughout the state, work zone safety is one of the most important issues we deal with. We want everyone to get home at the end of a workday. I’m glad National Work Zone Awareness Week shines a light on the issue.

ADOT is working on in partnership with the Arizona Chapter of the Associated General Contractors of America and the League of Arizona Cities and Towns to promote the week.

For example, like last year, the State Capitol dome, as well as the House and Senate buildings, will be lit orange from dusk to dawn during the week. You’ll also want to keep an eye on ADOT’s Twitter and Facebook accounts and our overhead signs for various work zone safety messages.

Finally, I’d like to encourage you to visit azdot.gov/workzone for more information, including videos and safety tips. As always, I hope you will share what you learn with your loved ones. Stay safe!

EDITOR'S NOTE: More safety messages from Dallas Hammit, ADOT's state engineer and deputy director for transportation, are available at Driving Safety Home on azdot.gov.