My Huey P.

Each year in April, National Work Zone Awareness Week (NWZAW) helps bring national attention to safety issues of workers and motorists around work zones. Since its conception in 1999, the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) in conjunction with the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO)and the American Traffic Safety Services Association (ATSSA) have worked together to coordinate and sponsor this yearly event. Eleven-years later, transportation partners have joined the effort to support NWZAW. In addition to a national event conducted each year, many states host their own NWZAW events.

Each year a theme is chosen to help bring awareness to existing issues. This year’s theme is “Work Zones Need Your Undivided Attention" and it will kick-off on April 19 at Battery Park in New York City. This theme echoes the national efforts to end the dangerous practice of distracted or inattentive driving on our nation’s roadway.

So, what is distracted driving? Distracted driving is defined as a non-driving activity that has the potential for distraction from the task of driving thus increasing the risk of crashing. The three main types of distraction are:

• Visual — taking your eyes off the road
• Manual — taking your hands off the wheel
• Cognitive — taking your mind off what you’re doing

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), nearly 6,000 people died in 2008 in crashes involving a distracted or inattentive driver, and more than half a million were injured. Among the most common distracting activities are:

• Using a cell phone
• Eating and drinking
• Grooming
• Talking to passengers
• Reading, including maps
• Using PDA or navigation systems
• Watching a video

Work zones, by their nature, require more attention than a normal roadway system. When driving through an active work zone, remember that an attentive driver is a safe driver. Here are ways you can remain focused and keep others safe:

• Set your phone to mute
• If you need to talk or text, pull over to a safe location and park your vehicle
• If you call and reach someone who is driving, ask that they call you when it is safe to do so
• If you’re in a car with someone who is driving, ask them to put the distraction away until it is safe
• When driving, be sure to devote your time to the task at hand – this is not the time to multi-task.
• Be a defensive driver by anticipating dangerous situations caused by adverse conditions or incompetent drivers
• Help spread the word about distracted driving

On April 19, make it a point to make work zone safety a year-round goal by remembering that work zone safety protects not only the people who repair and build our roads but also those who drive on them.

Here a list of additional information to help keep the cause alive:

Download the 2010 NWZAW poster

GeauxOrange.com commemorates 2010 NWZAW

View a short video about National Work Zone Safety Awareness Week on You Tube

Distraction.gov – The official U.S. Government Website for distracted driving

National Safety Council - A non-profit, non-governmental public service organization dedicated to protect life and promote health in the United States.

Oprah’s No Text Campaign