The South Carolina Department of Transportation (SCDOT) has presented the South Carolina Welcome Center on I-95 in Jasper County with a first-place award for its display during National Work Zone Awareness Week.
Welcome Centers across the state were adorned with work zone education materials, traffic cones, barrels, banners and stop/yield paddles to help spread the work zone safety message to travelers during the 11th Annual National Work Zone Awareness Week April 19-23.
The I-95 Welcome Center in Hardeeville, with Gwen Hendley, Manager, was judged to have the most creative display. For its commitment to safety, the center received a certificate of recognition and life-sized traffic cone trophy from SCDOT.
The SC Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism partnered with SCDOT and the SC Department of Public Safety (SCDPS) to bring awareness to work zone safety. SCDPS had Community Resource Officers stationed at Welcome Center to provide information to visitors during National Work Zone Awareness Week.
Between 2005 and 2009, more than 4,000 traffic crashes in South Carolina were work zone related. During this time, 42 people died in these crashes and an additional 1,755 were injured. The leading probable cause for work zone related crashes was driving too fast for conditions. The next four leading causes were: failure to yield right of way; driver inattention; following too closely; and improper lane change.
PHOTO:
http://www.scdot-transfer.org/scdotphotos/WZSAW/HardeeGroup.jpg
Photo Caption:
The I-95 Welcome Center in Hardeeville won First Place for the group's effort in alerting the public to National Work Zone Awareness Week. Welcome Centers across South Carolina set up displays and handed out safety materials to motorists. The safety message encouraged motorist to slow down and pay attention while driving through work zones.
The Hardeville Welcome Center employees are, from left: Gwen Hendley, Corine Singleton, Carletter Williams and Heidi McManus. (Photo by Rob Thompson/SCDOT)
#####
