ODOT, Ohio Turnpike Call for Work Zone Safety

“In Ohio there were 4,373 crashes in work zones last year, including 1,118 injury crashes and 19 fatalities...”

This summer, the Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) and the Ohio Turnpike & Infrastructure Commission (OTIC) will operate more than 2,000 work zones on roadways around the state. Meanwhile, thousands of law enforcement officers, emergency personnel, towing crews and utility workers will be working all across the state, every day.

The Ohio Turnpike is asking drivers to stay alert on roadways because even the smallest mistake can be deadly. In Ohio there were 4,373 crashes in work zones last year, including 1,118 injury crashes and 19 fatalities.

This issue is so serious that fines are doubled for failing to move over – or slow down in a work zone if changing lanes is not possible – when passing any vehicle with flashing lights on the side of a road.

Violators are fined $300 for the first violation (a minor misdemeanor), $500 for the same violation within a year of the first, and $1,000 for more than two violations in a year.

Ohio’s Move Over Law requires motorists to cautiously shift over one lane – or slow down if changing lanes is not possible – when passing any vehicle with flashing lights on the side of a road.

The Move Over Law expanded in December 2013 to apply to every stationary vehicle with flashing lights, including road construction, maintenance and utility crews.

Safety Tips

When driving through work zones, motorists can increase safety by following these simple tips:

Stay alert and give driving your full attention

Follow all posted signs and obey flaggers

Don’t tailgate or speed; most crashes in work zones are rear-end collisions

Expect the unexpected

Beware that normal traffic patterns may be shifted

For more information about the Move Over Law visit www.MoveOver.Ohio.gov.