As the 2011 highway construction season gets under way, the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT), Illinois Tollway, Illinois State Police, Local Laborers Union, road builders and other Illinois Strategic Highway Safety Plan members partnered today to announce their participation in National Work Zone Awareness Week, April 4-8.
The multi-agency collaboration is part of an ongoing effort to improve awareness and reduce traffic related crashes, fatalities and injuries in work zones.
"As Illinois kick-starts its annual construction season, we want to ensure that motorists and workers protect themselves and others while traveling through work zones," said Illinois Transportation Secretary Gary Hannig. "The state experienced historic two-year lows in traffic fatalities in 2009 and 2010 which resulted in part from strategic partnerships, excellent engineering, impactful traffic safety campaigns, effective programs and consistent motorist compliance to state law."
IDOT strongly encourages motorists to be alert for workers in construction zones, slow down, buckle up, obey posted speed limits and drive free of distractions like cell phones and texting devices.
This marks the second year since distracted driving laws went into effect in Illinois. The laws prohibit the use of hand-held wireless telephones for all drivers, regardless of age, while operating a vehicle in a school or construction zone.
In addition, the use of electronic communication devices or any other electronic device, to text, e-mail, compose, read or send electronic messages or access internet sites while driving a motor vehicle at any time is prohibited.
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