TxDOT brings awareness to drivers about work zone safety

With the city continuing to expand, that may mean more construction work zones.

Because of that, TxDOT officials want to remind locals of why they need to be more aware whendriving around work zones.

By law, drivers are required to move over or slow down when approaching work crews on the street.

Traffic fines in work zones double when workers are present and can cost up to $2,000.

Aside from that fine, drivers could face an even bigger fine if drinking or speeding are causes of work zone fatalities.

El Paso police say an alleged drunken driver hit and killed workers after driving through barriers meant to shut down the freeway.

Because of fatalities like that, TxDOT has placed, attenuaters, or big trucks with signs in front of construction workers.

This helps prevent those workers from being hit.

Most construction work is also done early in the morning when fewer cars are on the roads.

According to TxDOT officials, work zone crashes increased by 13 percent last year.

TxDOT hopes that percentage will decrease this year.