Construction Site Injury Serves As A Reminder To Drive Safely

As warmer weather arrives, the number of construction projects on Rhode Island roads are on the rise. After a construction worker was injured by an intoxicated driver over the winter, Rhode Island Department of Transportation officials are warning drivers to be extra careful in work zones. This week marks National Work Zone Awareness Week.

Joe Molis was sitting in his work truck over the winter when a car hit the truck, severely injuring him. Molis is still recovering from his injuries from the crash, which was later determined to have been caused by a drunken driver.

"We hear countless stories of people speeding through work zones, driving impaired, distracted or in some other reckless manner without regard for the safety of others," said RIDOT Director Peter Alviti, Jr. "Unfortunately for Joe, this wasn't just another near miss."

Every year, more than 700 people die in work zones crashes and more than 25,000 people are injured, which averages out to approximately one crash per five minutes.

Nationally each year, more than 700 people die in work zone-related accidents and more than 25,000 injuries are reported. A work zone crash occurs every 5.4 minutes and each week there are 12 work zone crashes that involved at least one death. A large majority of those killed, about 85 percent, are not the workers on the road, but the driver or occupant of the vehicle involved in the crash. In Rhode Island there were 22 work zone injuries in 2018.

On Tuesday, local officials, the Rhode Island State Police, representatives from the Federal Highway Adminstration and more to raise awareness about construction zone safety. Molis was unable to attend the event because of his injuries, but told officials he frequently sees cars driving by at full speed without moving over at construction sites.

"People need to open their eyes, pay attention and slow down. It's really no more than a few moments, a second or two off your trip, to slow down in a work zone," Molis said. "Everybody out there has a family. Everybody deserves to get home safely."

When driving near construction zones, it's extremely important to obey posted speed limits, which are lower than they otherwise would be. In addition, Rhode Island's move over law, which requires drivers to move over one lane when approaching an emergency vehicle, has been expanded to include construction sites. If it isn't safe to move over or it's impossible to do so, drivers need to, at the very least, slow down.

"When you see those flashing lights, those work ahead signs, your immediate reaction should be caution. Those are real human beings working on the road," Alviti added. "At that point it's your job to protect them. Back off the accelerator; move over if possible. You could save a life."

James Manni, colonel of the Rhode Island State Police and director of the Department of Public Safety, said that construction site crashes are mainly caused by driver carelessness.

"Despite all the flashing lights - all the warning signs and traffic cones at work zones - some motorists still fail to slow down, still fail to move over," Manni said. "That's why we have so many tragic crashes at work sites, all because someone drove too fast, too close, too distracted or while impaired. As a result, they crash into people who are out there working on our roads, just trying to do their jobs."