Recent Road Crew Injuries Sparks Focus on Driver Safety

Road construction is common in Illinois. Unfortunately, required repairs and improvements to the state’s roads that are intended to improve safety and functionality can put road crew workers and motorists at risk for serious, and potentially fatal injuries. While Illinois has strict penalties for motorists who are convicted of motor vehicle violations in work zones, accidents can, and do still occur. According to Chicago car accident lawyer Donald W. Fohrman, ” Distracted driving and the confusion and frustration that often occurs in work zones are major contributing factors that cause fatal work zone accidents.”

A recent renewal of its alliance with NIOSH to protect roadway construction workers demonstrates that OSHA agrees. According to Assistant Secretary of Labor for Occupational Safety and Health Dr. David Michaels.”Employees who work in highway construction work zones face serious dangers, not only from construction equipment but from motorists as well. I am confident that the information and resources generated from this renewed alliance will prove beneficial in reducing worker injuries and fatalities.”