Sunriver Scene September 2026 - Flipbook - Page 9
Slow down: You control the safety of work zones
Orange cones, flashing signs
and lane closures are more than
just an inconvenience, they’re
a warning. Slow down, pay attention and protect the people
working just feet from traffic.
Work zone safety doesn’t
rely on enforcement alone.
While law enforcement partners patrol construction areas
when staffing allows, safety
begins with every driver who
passes through.
“Even when an officer is present, they may be called away
to an emergency elsewhere,”
ODOT Public Information
Officer Mindy McCartt said.
“We can’t station a trooper at
every project, every hour of the
day. That’s why driver behavior
is critical.”
In Oregon, fines double in
work zones, but the real penalty
isn’t measured in dollars. It’s
measured in lives. Each year,
crashes in work zones result in
injuries and fatalities to both
workers and drivers.
ODOT budgets for extra law
enforcement presence in major
construction zones, but safety is
still in the hands of the travel-
ing public.
“Drivers have the most power to prevent crashes,” A.J.
Jacobson, resident engineer
and consultant project manager, said. “If you slow down,
put the phone away and stay
alert, you’re protecting yourself, our crews and our law
enforcement partners.”
Law enforcement may patrol
these work zones when available, but ODOT emphasizes
that safety is ultimately in the
hands of every driver who
passes through.
Tips for staying safe in
work zones:
• Slow down. Speeds are
reduced for a reason.
• Stay alert. Watch for workers, equipment and sudden
stops.
• Give space. Leave room
between your car and the one
in front of you.
• Expect delays. Plan ahead
and give yourself extra travel
time.
“Work zones are temporary,
but the decisions you make
behind the wheel can last a
lifetime,” McCartt said.
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SEPTEMBER 2026 SUNRIVER SCENE
Page 9
