PIERRE, S.D. (KELO.com) — This is National Work Zone Awareness Week.
South Dakota Department of Transportation Pierre area engineer Dean VanDeWiele says the designation highlights the deadly dangers of speeding or driving distracted in work areas.
“Statistics show in the National Work Zone Clearing House that there are 762 fatal crashes with 842 deaths in 2019,” says VanDeWiele.
He says this shows the need to observe speed limits, eliminate distractions when approaching and driving through work zones.
People are invited to participate in GO ORANGE DAY Wednesday (April 28). VanDeWiele encourages businesses, organizations, individuals, families and friends to wear some orange apparel, take creative photos and share the pictures on social media using the hashtag #orange4safetysd. Facebook users can access and use SDDOT’s work zone safety awareness profile picture frame on the SDDOT Facebook page from April 26-30, 2021.
For additional information on National Work Zone Awareness Week, visit https://dot.sd.gov/inside-sddot/of-interest/work-zone-awareness-week or www.NWZAW.org.
(DRG News contributed to this story.)
