Drivers, Be Aware of National Work Zone Awareness Week

(NECN: Melissa Toupin) - Next week is national work zone awareness week, and you can expect to see more men and women in blue around construction sites.

State police officers will be laying down the law on speeding and other traffic rules.

Working along highway construction zones comes with many risks. State officials are trying to raise awareness and remind people to slow down and pay attention or face the consequences.

State police troopers are gearing up to begin a crackdown on drivers found speeding in highway work zones.

Those who do their work on the sides of highways are at a significant risk of injury, usually working just feet from fast-moving traffic.

Through the work zone safety program, additional troopers will be deployed at up to two dozen construction sites across Massachusetts to identify and stop drivers who are speeding, impaired or distracted.

“The message is clear. If you speed in a work zone, you will be caught and you will be fined.”

The effort is particularly important as road and bridge construction begins this month.

The program originally kicked off last fall. Since November 2011, Mass DOT says, in work zones, more than 3,000 speeding citations were issued, more than 400 seatbelt violations were cited and 75 people were cited for aggravated driving.

Police officials say the increase in awareness is working.

Federal highway and safety funds will cover the $400,000 cost of the program, money construction workers say is worth it.

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