National Work Zone Awareness Week

The Ohio Department of Transportation says National Work Zone Awareness Week is coming up the week of April 11-15.

Officials are reminding drivers to obey the state’s move over law, which requires them to move over and slow down for emergency vehicles with lights activated.

Lt. Matt Crow, Commander of the Findlay Post of the Highway Patrol, says the law is designed to keep people from getting hurt.

ODOT says in 2021 there were 4,796 work zone crashes in Ohio resulting in 30 deaths, and ODOT work crews were struck 154 times.

The Ohio State Highway Patrol issued more than 6,000 citations in work zones in 2021, and 41 percent of the citations were for speeds of more than 20 miles per hour over the speed limit.

The top three causes of work zone crashes are following too closely, excessive speed and distracted driving.

Wednesday is Wear Orange Day.