Media Manager

RIGBY - With Idahos road construction season in full swing, transportation officials urge motorists to slow down in highway work zones to ensure their own safety and that of construction workers.

The Idaho Transportation Department and the Associated General Contractors of Idaho are working together to emphasize the importance of keeping work zones safe.

There are many good reasons to slow down and give work-zone driving your full attention, said Michael Gifford, executive vice president of Idaho Associated General Contractors. Concern for the safety of workers behind the traffic cones is an obvious one, as is courtesy to other drivers. But perhaps the most important reason is that your life and the lives of your passengers, depends on it.

In 2004, there were 265 collisions in Idaho work zones; 14 of those were in eastern Idaho, which includes Rigby. The year before, there were 357 work zone collisions statewide.

Rear-end collisions account for most work zone crashes. Following too closely, inattentive driving, failing to yield the right of way and improper lane changes also contribute to accidents in work zones.

We are investing in the road system to meet the transportation needs of tomorrow, said Tom Cole, ITD District 6 Engineer. Our goal is to make sure work zone accidents arent a cost we must pay for those improvements.

Speeding in a work zone carries with it an enhanced fine. The standard fine for speeding in Idaho is $53; the fine for a work zone speed violation is $82.50.

Accidents in highway work zones claimed eight lives statewide in 2004. All of those fatalities were vehicle occupants; however, crews working on or near the roadway are especially vulnerable since their attention is focused on their task rather than on passing traffic.