National Work Zone Safety Week 

 April 15 - April 19, 2024

https://youtube.com/watch?v=5CXf1oUMeOo

Work zone safety - It's in your hands 

          It is illegal to talk on a handheld mobile device while driving in a Wisconsin road work zone. 

https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/2015/related/acts/308

The law is part of ongoing efforts to reduce distracted driving and increase safety for motorists and workers throughout the state. As of 2019, violations including court costs are $162.70 first offense and $200.50 second offense. Note that fines are subject to change in accordance with Uniform Traffic Deposit Schedule.

Following the law is simple. Just remember: Orange cones – Put down the phones!

Why is Wisconsin doing this?

Mobile devices continue to be a leading cause of distracted driving throughout the United States. Given that Wisconsin sees an average of nearly 2,000 work zone crashes annually, the new law is a proactive step toward increasing safety and helping to ensure that drivers are giving as much of their attention as possible to the road. Wisconsin is one of 14 states with a full or partial ban on hand-held mobile devices while driving, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.

What about hands-free devices?

Hands-free and Bluetooth devices are granted exemptions and remain legal to use. However, some studies are beginning to show that even hands-free devices can take a driver’s attention off the road.

Please take this into consideration and always drive safely.

What about emergencies?

The law grants an exception for drivers to use a hand-held mobile device if dialing 911.

What about texting?

Wisconsin continues to have zero tolerance for texting while driving. Wisconsin law forbids driving any motor vehicle while composing or sending an electronic text message or an electronic mail message.

Driving Deserves Undivided Attention

Hand-held mobile device use is one of the most common factors in distracted driving.

• Mobile device use is a factor in one in four crashes nationwide.
• In 2014, there were 22,194 car crashes related to distracted driving in Wisconsin – that’s one crash every 20 minutes.
• In 2015, there were 24,089 inattentive driving crashes, resulting in 10,640 injuries and 103 fatalities.
• At any given daylight moment in America, an estimated 660,000 drivers are using cell phones or manipulating electronic devices while driving, a number that has held steady since 2010.

Avoid the Risk. Stay Safe!

• Turn your phone off or switch to silent mode whenever you get behind the wheel. It can wait.
• If you are making a long drive, consider recording a voice mail message saying how long you’ll be unavailable.
• If you must use a phone while driving, stop in a safe area such as a wayside or gas station.
• Ask passengers to lend a hand by making phone calls for you.
• Passengers – speak up and ask distracted drivers to stay alert.
• Parents – Talk to your kids about the dangers of distracted driving.

 "Move Over Law"

 October 21, 2023 - National "Move Over" Day

Drivers must provide a safety zone for stopped law enforcement, emergency and maintenance vehicles.

To help safeguard law enforcement officers, emergency responders, road maintenance workers, and others who work on the side of highways, Wisconsin has a "Move Over Law" (Wis. Stat. s. 346.072).

The law requires drivers to shift lanes or slow down in order to provide a "safety zone" for a squad car, ambulance, fire truck, tow truck, utility vehicle, or highway maintenance vehicle that is stopped on the side of a road with its warning lights flashing.

Drivers have two options for creating a safety zone:

• If the road has more than one directional lane, like the Interstate, and you can switch lanes safely, you must move over to vacate the lane closest to the law enforcement or other vehicle with its lights flashing.
• If the road has a single directional lane or you can't safely move over, you must reduce your speed.

Failure of motorists to move over is one of the reasons that motor vehicle crashes kill more law enforcement officers on duty than any other cause.

"Move Over Law" https://youtu.be/5JsUehD0cTo

To learn more about work zone safety:   https://wisconsindot.gov/Pages/safety/education/workzone/default.aspx