“Obeying the Orange”

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics there are more than 50 fatalities at road construction sites every year caused by motor vehicle accidents. This year, the Connecticut General Assembly passed several laws, concerning the Safety of Workers in Roadway Work Zones they go into effect October 1, 2103.   The new laws include:

·Requirement of driving schools to include a discussion concerning work zone safety and the responsibilities of a motor vehicle operator;

·Driver’s license (knowledge) test includes a question covering work zone safety and the responsibilities of a motor vehicle operator;

·Motor vehicle operators to attend a retraining program if convicted of traveling in a work zone faster than 75 miles per hour.  Commercial vehicle operators are subject of retraining if they are convicted of traveling more than 65 miles per hour;

·If convicted of a violation of the statute covering highway work zone, and endangerment of a highway worker, Section 14-212d of the General Statutes, up to two points will be assessed against the operator.

Also, a portion of Route 3 in Wethersfield will now be declared the “Daniel R. DiNardi Memorial Highway,” in honor of the DOT Maintenance Supervisor who was killed on March 22, 2012.  

Terri Thompson, work Zone Safety Awareness Campaign Chair for the Connecticut Department of Transportation says, “These bills reinforce Connecticut’s resolve to minimize the number of tragedies caused by improper and distracted driving, along with speeding in work zones and highlights the importance of accident prevention.”

As a ranking member of the Public Safety Committee, I am aware of the dangers the men and women of the DOT face on a daily basis.  I attended a ceremony at DOT headquarters in Newington last April to commemorate the life of Daniel DiNardi.  He was beloved by so many in the department.  We were able to honor his memory that day, reminding the youngest residents in the state that safety on the road comes first.

Many students from around the state were in attendance because they had submitted their work zone safety week projects for a contest hosted by the University of Connecticut and the Connecticut Department of Transportation.  Several students from the district put a very serious issue on the map, focusing their message on distracted driving.  The winning poster had a slogan, “If you text – you’re next.” Transportation officials say many of the accidents on the roads are caused by distracted drivers. 

I have had the privilege of meeting many of these road side warriors as they live in the district and they often tell me, they are fully aware that whenever they step foot on the interstate they are at risk. But they do it because they care about keeping Connecticut’s infrastructure intact for the future.

      To get up-to-date information visit www.ct.gov/dot and click on ObeytheOrange logo or go to www.facebook.com/ObeyTheOrange