Ignoring the work zones around the orange barrels is causing ODOT and state troopers to see red.
ALLEN COUNTY, OH (WLIO) - Work zones are a familiar sight on roads across the country during the summer, but ignoring the zones around the orange barrels is causing ODOT and state troopers to see red. Ellie Janszen takes us to a work zone nearby.
Local law enforcement encourages everyone to play their part by taking precautions while entering the work zones and paying attention to signs in order to keep everybody safe.
The men and women working inside work zones aim for one common goal: to keep everybody on the road safe. It is important that we strive to do the same for them.
The people working on protecting roadways carry many titles like trooper, maintenance worker, EMT, and tow truck operator. However, the Ohio State Highway Patrol says their more important titles are mother, father, son, and daughter. Local law enforcement encourages everyone to play their part by taking precautions while entering the work zones and paying attention to signs in order to keep everybody safe.
From 2019 through 2023, there were 24,642 crashes within Ohio roadway work zones.
"I mean, there's plenty of notice that ODOT does a good job of setting the stuff up beforehand; it's not a surprise. Like if speed's being reduced, they put reduce ahead signs, so again, it's just a matter of focusing on your driving. We just want these people to make sure they're following the laws and also be on the lookout for these workers so that these people can go home safely," stated Lt. Nicholas Boes, Ohio State Highway Patrol.
Whether they are enhancing safety features or improving road conditions, it's important to follow work zone rules even when workers aren't present.
75% of citations in work zones are for speed violations, with more than 100 citations including people exceeding 100 miles per hour. From 2019 through 2023, there were 24,642 crashes within Ohio roadway work zones. Between 2019 and 2024, there were over 9,000 injuries and 102 fatalities in those same work zones.
In ODOT District 1 work zones alone, there have been 141 injured and 1 fatality in 2024.
In June, Governor Mike DeWine increased enforcement of Ohio law within work zones to have more troopers and motorcycle and aviation units monitor different crash-causing violations. ODOT workers want motorists to understand those work zones, and they want to make it home at the end of the day.
"I don't think people realize, you know, what it's like to be in these work zones, you know. I've stood there when you've got traffic just a few feet away from you going 70 miles an hour plus. It's really scary, and you're only a few feet away from tragedy, so I really like to hit home the message that these are people; they have families; they do things outside of work," said Chris Hughes, ODOT District 1 deputy director.
Many people may see these zones as an inconvenience, but they are essential to drivers. Whether they are enhancing safety features or improving road conditions, it's important to follow work zone rules even when workers aren't present.
