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Connecticut Department of Transportation Kicks off Work Zone Awareness Week: March 23 - 27

Campaign Urges Connecticut Residents to Obey the Orange in an Effort to Increase Safety of Workers on Roads

NEWINGTON, CT (March 24, 2015) – The Connecticut Department of Transportation (CT DOT) and states across the country are promoting National Work Zone Awareness Week from March 23 – 27, 2015.   A harsh winter will bring a lot of maintenance activity on our roadways and other projects that have been in a lull during the winter months will start up again in earnest as the warm weather arrives. 

The national and state campaigns are designed to raise awareness and educate the public about the dangers of work zones in an effort to increase the safety of workers and motorists on the roads.

“Connecticut and the nation are committed to increasing motorist and worker safety in work zones and reducing highway fatalities and injuries,” said Governor Dannel P. Malloy.  “Our safety partners understand the risks and are committed to doing whatever needs to be done to protect the people that not only work on our roads but also the people that drive on our roads.”

The theme for National Work Zone Awareness Week 2015 is “Expect the Unexpected”  This was the original theme used 15 years ago in the national event that was created to focus attention on work zone safety and work zone workers. Since the creation of the national campaign by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), ATSSA and AASHTO, the number of work zone fatalities has dropped significantly.

Connecticut’s motto “Obey the Orange - Slow Down For Work Zones” and “Expect the Unexpected” emphasize that each of us – whether motorist, pedestrian, or worker – can all play a role in reducing the number of crashes and injuries by exercising caution in roadway work zones. 

Lieutenant Governor Nancy Wyman will be a guest speaker at the press conference, which will also announce the winners of the 2015 poster contest, which is open to all public school children in grades K-6.

The event will also be attended by highway construction and maintenance workers, private contractors, public utility companies, construction industry associations, and state and local police to help increase the awareness and importance of safe driving by the motoring public.

  

Connecticut Work Zone Safety Press Conference

Tuesday, March 24, 2015 @ 10:00 a.m.

Conference Rooms A&B

Connecticut Main Building

2800 Berlin Turnpike, Newington, CT

SPEAKERS

Opening Remarks and Host

James Redeker

                  Commissioner

Department of Transportation

Honorable Nancy Wyman

Lieutenant Governor

State of Connecticut

Antonio Guerrera and Russ Morin

State Representatives

Transportation Committee

Michael Bzdyra

Deputy Commissioner

Department of Motor Vehicles

Amy Jackson-Grove

Division Administrator

FHWA- CT Division

Chief John (Jack) Daly

Southington Police Department

Connecticut Police Chiefs Association

Captain Thomas Begert

Executive Officer Western District Headquarters

Connecticut State Police

PRESENTATIONS

Changing of the Guard

Terri Thompson

Frederick DiNardi - New Chairperson

Work Zone Safety Awareness Group

Donation Check to American Traffic Safety Services Association Foundation

Connecticut Work Zone Safety Working Group  

Bridgeport Sound Tigers

on behalf of November 2014 Orange Out Event

2015 Roadway Safety Poster Contest

Opening Remarks- Donna Shea

Safety Video

How to Be Safe on the Roadway

Produced by Nicole Creaturo, CT Technology Transfer Center

Poster Presentations

Mary McCarthy

University of Connecticut, CT Technology Transfer Center

To get up to the date information as well as safety tips and news, visit the Department of Transportation Website at www.ct.gov/dot and click on ObeytheOrange logo or go to www.facebook.com/CTWorkZoneSafety