[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 55 (Wednesday, April 1, 2009)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E843-E844]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   NATIONAL WORK ZONE AWARENESS WEEK

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. JAMES L. OBERSTAR

                              of minnesota

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, April 1, 2009

  Mr. OBERSTAR. Madam Speaker, I rise today to highlight the 10th 
annual National

[[Page E844]]

Work Zone Awareness Week, which is taking place next week.
  During National Work Zone Awareness Week, almost every State across 
the country will be holding some type of educational event to highlight 
the importance of work zone safety on our nation's roadways.
  Over the past decade, more than 10,500 fatalities were reported in 
work zones. In 2007, 835 traffic-related fatalities were reported and 
over 39,000 people were injured in accidents that took place in work 
zones across the country. Most disturbingly, 305 of the fatalities in 
2007 involved workers being struck by moving vehicles while on the job. 
These statistics are alarming and illustrate the dangers posed to the 
men and women charged with rebuilding America.
  We can help to reduce this number dramatically by taking a number of 
important steps including: encouraging responsible driving and greater 
understanding of the dangers involved with work zones, enhancing 
enforcement of speed limits and laws that protect workers, and 
installation of protective devices and equipment.
  As a result of the nation's aging highway infrastructure, the country 
is faced with unprecedented levels of reconstruction and maintenance 
projects. And these levels will only increase in the near future.
  With the influx of ready-to-go projects getting underway this summer 
as a result of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, every Member 
of Congress must make a greater effort to educate their constituents 
about the need to obey traffic signs, speed limits, and construction 
workers themselves while traveling through work zones.
  As the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure begins to 
develop the next surface transportation authorization, our top priority 
will be improving the safety of our nation's roadways to reduce the 
astounding number of traffic-related fatalities and injuries that we, 
as a nation, endure year after year. Providing a greater commitment to 
increasing work zone safety will be a central aspect of this effort.
  I look forward to working with national, state, and local 
organizations in reducing work zone and roadway deaths and injuries. 
Events such as Work Zone Awareness Week serve as an important first 
step in this endeavor.
  Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to actively participate in 
promoting the goals and ideals of National Work Zone Awareness Week 
throughout their districts.

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