NEW YORK ROAD CREWS OFTEN IN DANGER ZONE

Cars speeding though work zones happen all too often.

Green County Highway Department Supervisor Pete Koch and employees Jerry Wells and David Wolfe said it's happened to them, and all three said it's something that concerns them while they're working on county, state or township roads.

This week is "Work Zone Safety Awareness Week" throughout the United States. In March, the Green County Board of Supervisors passed a resolution in support of work zone safety week in hopes that drivers will be aware of the dangers to highway workers in work zones.

Koch said he's seen people drive too fast through work zones while he's been on the road working.

"I'll have the red truck and there's a light on the top of it, and they still don't slow down," he said.

Wells said one driver almost ran over him while he was holding a stop sign by a road crew.

"She said she didn't see the sign, and she almost ran me over," he said.

Wells said he's gotten "very nervous" as he's watched cars travel at about 30 mph on their way to where he was directing traffic. What Wells worries about most, however, isn't his safety but the safety of the others in the work crew.

"I can jump out of the way, but a lot of times they have their backs to traffic, and I don't think I can yell loud enough to be heard over the equipment they're using," Wells said.

"Sometimes you have to make them come to a complete stop or they won't slow down," Wolfe added.

Wells said violators come in all ages, and both men and women have been known to drive too fast in a work zone.

According to the Green County Highway Department, in Wisconsin there are an average of 1,700 accidents in work zones every year with 12 fatalities.

Nationally, there is a work zone fatality every three hours and an injury every nine minutes, according to the United States Department of Transportation.

Wisconsin law states that when drivers approach emergency vehicles, tow trucks or highway maintenance vehicles that have their emergency or warning lights on, they must slow down. The "Move Over Law" also states that motorists must get in the farthest lane on roads with two or more lanes if they can do so safely to avoid emergency workers or road crews.

The Green County Sheriff's Department will monitor traffic in work zones this week.

People who are cited for speeding in a work zone face up to $243 in fines.