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National Work Zone Awareness Week A Reminder To Drive Safely

Carson City, NEV. –With numerous road improvement projects across the region, the Nevada Department of Transportation and Nevada Highway Patrol are reminding motorists to drive safely in road work zones during National Work Zone Awareness Week, held April 11-15, and throughout the year.

FAST FACTS

Statewide Work Zone Crashes July 1, 2014 to July 1, 2015

Total fatalities - 12 / Total injuries - 612 / Total crashes – 1,020

Washoe County Work Zone Crashes July 1, 2014 to July 1, 2015

Total fatalities - 2 / Total injuries - 53 / Total crashes – 166

“Tragically, there were 12 deaths in Nevada road work zones in a recent one-year period,” Nevada Highway Patrol Trooper Duncan Dauber said. “Nothing other than zero fatalities is acceptable on Nevada roads. By slowing down, always buckling up and focusing on the road, drivers can help reach that goal. And drivers should pay particular attention when driving through road work zones. If you commit a traffic violation in a road work zone with workers present, you can be cited and fines and demerit points against your license can be doubled.”

“NDOT and our transportation partners are here to provide safe and mobile transportation for Nevadans,” NDOT Director Rudy Malfabon explained. “While workers are making road improvements to provide us all with a safer and smoother commute, we want to remind drivers to give them a ‘brake.’ That means slowing down and driving safely anytime you’re on the road, and particularly in road work zones.”

This spring and summer, NDOT will continue improvements on Interstate 580 between Glendale Avenue and Moana Lane in Reno. Other road construction projects will enhance I-580 through Washoe Valley and U.S. 50 at Cave Rock in Lake Tahoe. The improvements will be joined by other important road projects by NDOT and partner agencies.

Throughout construction, NDOT works to keep drivers and road workers safe, using protective barriers, warning signs, lower speed limits, lane closures and flaggers in certain work zones. Construction work is also often scheduled during nighttime and off-peak hours.

Work zone driving tips and information on major NDOT road projects is available at www.nevadadot.com. Updates on current state road conditions are available by logging onto www.nvroads.com or calling ‘511’ before driving.

National Work Zone Awareness Week is sponsored by the Federal Highway Administration to bring national attention to motorist and worker safety and mobility in work zones.

Double Penalty in Work Zones!

Nevada law doubles the penalty for speeding, up to $1,000, in any marked road construction or maintenance work zone when workers are present.