2005 Press Releases

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CALTRANS REMEMBERS FALLEN COLLEAGUES

The California Department of Transportation (Fresno) will hold a Press Conference today, Friday, April 15, 2005 in front of the Bakersfield Maintenance Station located at 1226 Olive Drive, Bakersfield at 11:00 a.m. to remember the employees killed on the job.

Since 1924, 161 California Department of Transportation employees have been killed on the job. One of the biggest hazards is from motorists who do not exercise caution while driving where highway workers are present.

We look forward and celebrate every day that our employees make it home safely. Today we look back at those that did not make it. Since 1995, three Caltrans employees were killed and 54 injured by errant motorists in active construction and maintenance work zones. In 1996, there were no fatalities but plenty of close calls with 24 employees injured by errant vehicles. In 1997, four employees were killed and two wounded. The years 1998 to 2001 added four employee deaths and unfortunately in 2004 three more names have been added to the growing list of employees who have died on the job.

"Working on the California highway system should not be a life or death situation. We can all help improve safety for our highway workers by easing up on the gas pedal while in the 'cone zone'," said Kris Balaji, Acting Deputy District Director, Maintenance and Traffic Operations.

The Worker Memorial Press Conference, to be held as part of National Work Zone Safety Week, will hi-light the Slow for the Cone Zone Campaign. Slow for the Cone Zone is a public awareness campaign that warns California motorists of the hazards associated with driving recklessly through California's highway work zones. Since its inception, the number of collisions in construction and other improvement zones on California state highways has consistently decreased, year after year.

The event will feature 161 cones draped with black bands and orange ribbons. Each cone will represent a California Caltrans highway worker who has died on the job since 1924. Speakers for this event will include Steve Mason, Regional Superintendent of Maintenance and Traffic Operations for Caltrans and Captain Bob Clements with the California Highway Patrol.

class="blackHeader">Work Zone Safety Tips

The California Department of Transportation wants you to return home safely to your family. The following tips are to help you stay safe while traveling through maintenance and construction work zones. Motorists can make trips a little safer by remembering the following work zone safety tips.

• Do not speed in work zones; obey the posted speed limits.
• Stay Alert! Expect the unexpected.
• Watch for workers; drive with caution.
• Don't change lanes unnecessarily.
• Avoid using mobile phones while driving in work zones.
• Turn on headlights so that workers and other drivers can see you.
• Be especially alert at night while driving in work zones.
• Expect delays, especially during peak travel times.
• Allow ample spacebetween you and the car in front of you.
• Anticipate lane shifts, and merge when directed to do so.
• Be Patient!

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