Safety Campaign: Be Careful In Work Zones During Summer Travel
7 July 1998
National Radio Campaign Urges Motorist Caution In Work Zones During Summer Travel WASHINGTON, July 7 -- As a record number of families around
the nation take vacation this summer, the American Road and Transportation
Builders Association (ARTBA) is unveiling a national radio campaign calling on
motorists to pay special attention and drive carefully through road
construction sites. More than 700 people are killed and 37,000 people are
injured in accidents at these sites each year.
"Accidents in roadway construction zones are a serious public health
problem," said ARTBA President & CEO Pete Ruane. "The safety of motorists and
workers in highway work zones has been a long standing concern for the
transportation construction industry. We must all work together to make them
safer."
In the ad, the narrator talks about the importance of improving the
quality and safety of our roads. The William Tell Overture can be beard in
the background. The narrator also asks drivers to help reduce accidents this
summer by driving carefully and watching for the orange road signs marking
construction sites.
"Try to imagine working every day just a few feet away from traffic that
is traveling up to 70 miles per hour. That's the unique work environment for
highway construction workers," Ruane added. "Our radio campaign is designed
to alert motorists this summer and ask for their help in reducing work zone
accidents."
The association has purchased time to run the radio spot throughout July
in the following markets: San Diego and San Francisco, Calif.; Orlando, Fla.;
Peoria and Springfield, Ill.; Lansing, Mich.; Kansas City, Mo.; Portland,
Ore.; Austin, Texas; Seattle, Wash.; and Milwaukee, Wis. The ad has been sent
to ARTBA's 35 state chapters for further placements across the nation.
The ads are also being run to create awareness of the National Work Zone
Safety Information Clearinghouse, a cooperative venture between the Federal
Highway Administration and ARTBA. The National Utility Contractors
Association and the Institute for Transportation Engineers are marketing
partners with ARTBA in promoting Clearinghouse products and
services.
The Clearinghouse provides transportation agencies, law enforcement
departments, highway designers and contractors, labor unions, insurance
companies, motor clubs and other interested parties with a wealth of
information on how to make road construction zones safer for motorists,
pedestrians and highway workers.
The Clearinghouse can be reached via toll-free phone (1-888-447-5556),
fax (409-845-7575), e-mail (workzone@tamu.edu), or on the Internet at
http://wzsafety.tamu.edu.
Established in 1902, ARTBA is the only U.S. trade association that
exclusively represents the transportation construction industry. Its members
include construction contractors, professional engineering firms, heavy
equipment manufacturers, materials and traffic safety suppliers, firms
specializing in public-private transportation ventures, more than 600 state
and local government transportation entities and more than 50 universities.
