Retired MoDOT employee Mark Fresen only recalls the moments before a truck sideswiped the truck-mounted attenuator -or TMA- he was driving in a St. Louis work zone, crushing in the cab and pinning him inside. Fresen spent more than a year recovering in the hospital, and more than 200 days of it in intensive care with a broken pelvis and severe internal damage.
A news release says there were 39 TMA crashes in Missouri last year. And with 18 so far in 2020, the state’s on pace to see more of these work-zone crashes.
With the start of a busy construction season and “National Work Zone Awareness Week” coming up April 20-24, MoDOT reminds motorists to slow down and avoid distractions when driving through work zones.
MoDOT is urging drivers to take two simple and impactful actions to help protect themselves and those working along the highways: buckle up and put the phone down. Distracted driving remains a leading contributor to work-zone crashes. And the best defense in a work zone crash, or any crash, is a seat belt. In 2019, 64 percent of vehicle-occupant fatalities were not wearing a seat belt.
MoDOT also is urging drivers to pay attention to their speed. Traffic volumes across the country are down approximately 40 percent as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, but MoDOT officials and law-enforcement officers report an increase in speeding on Missouri highways.
MoDOT also advises motorists to observe warning signs and merge before reaching lane closures. Be aware of changing traffic conditions. Traffic could slow or stop unexpectedly, traffic lanes can merge, or equipment and workers can enter the roadway. Be aware and be prepared to slow down.