Move Over for Stopped Emergency Vehicles

Posted on April 7, 2017
Author Mary Perren, WKVI

Indiana is gearing up for highway construction season as Work Zone Awareness Week wraps up. The goal is to raise awareness of both motorist and worker safety in work zones.

Indiana’s Move Over Laws are in place to protect all workers performing necessary duties on Indiana’s roadways.

Motorists are reminded to reduce their speed and increase their distance from the vehicle in front of them as soon as they see flashing emergency lights. This increases visibility and the ability to safely react to whatever situation is ahead.

If you are on a mutli-lane highway, change lanes away from the emergency vehicle if it is safe to do so. If you can’t change lanes, slow down to at least 10 miles per hour below the posted speed limit, move as far away as possible within your lane and proceed with caution. Do not stop in the road, as doing so can cause a chain reaction crash.

Motorists should watch for police vehicles, ambulances, fire trucks and rescue equipment, incident response, highway maintenance and utility service vehicles, tow and garbage trucks.

Violating the state’s Move Over Law can result in a fine and license suspension of up to two years if the driver causes damage to emergency equipment. Injuring or killing an emergency worker can lead to a prison sentence.

Drivers should also give motorists who are broken down on the side of the road ample room to safely repair their vehicles.

Be Aware of Construction Workers in Work Zones

Posted on April 4, 2017
Author Anita Goodan, WKVI

April marks the beginning of the highway construction season. The Indiana Department of Transportation urges motorists to slow down in construction zones.

This will be a busy road construction season. INDOT will oversee more than 300 construction contracts totaling more than $1 billion in capital investment. Pavement resurfacing will encompass 3,047 miles. Work will focus on improving traffic mobility and safety. Dozens of interchanges and intersections will be improved across the state. INDOT and its contractors will also rehabilitate or construct 486 bridges and small structures.

Since 2014, at least 12 people are killed each year in INDOT work zone crashes. Eighty percent of those killed are motorists or their passengers.

With this being Work Zone Awareness week, INDOT officials urge motorists to look for signs for reduced speed limits and narrow driving lanes and highway workers. Merge early. If drivers merge as soon as they see signs, traffic will flow much more smoothly. Maintain a safe distance on all sides of the vehicle and adhere to posted speed limits. Drivers should minimize distractions and plan ahead. Expect travel delays during construction season and allow extra travel time.

For an interactive online map to keep up to date on current road construction projects, click on this link for more details.

INDOT Promotes Work Zone Awareness for Start of Construction Season

April 12, 2016AuthorTyler Maffitt, WKVI 

 

The Indiana Department of Transportation is recognizing Work Zone Awareness Week, and they’re reminding motorists not to be THAT driver.

Work Zone Awareness Week is advertised April 11th through the 15th. Those dates mark the unofficial start of construction season. By promoting awareness, INDOT hopes to improve driver and worker safety in work zones.

Last year, 17 people were killed and 700 were injured while traveling through Indiana construction zones. The state says it’s important to promote awareness this year because $800-million is being allocated for road repairs and construction projects around the state. Local governments are participating in the construction.

There are penalties in place for those driving aggressively in a construction zone, and possible prison time for motorists that strike a construction worker. Fines only promote a greater police presence near construction zones.

INDOT says that by avoiding distractions, slowing down, and allowing room between vehicles, construction season can proceed safely.