Texting Distracts Drivers From Highway Work Zones

Work Zone Awareness Week is coming to an end, but Fond du Lac County Highway Commissioner Tom Janke says drivers should be careful around highway construction zones year round. Last year in Wisconsin there were nearly 1,100 injuries and six deaths in highway work zones, the majority of them were drivers that were injured. Janke says they use electronic message boards, flaggers, orange barrels and other methods to try and alert drivers of upcoming construction zones. He points out that doesn’t do any good if the driver is distracted especially by a cell phone. He says, “Texting I’ve seen it more than once people trying to text and drive that’s almost impossible to do and pay attention. Some statistics say it is equal to drinking and driving or driving under the influence.”