Utah’s roads seeing more construction, more distraction

SALT LAKE Metropolis — A Utah Barricade Organization worker is fighting for his life in a clinic just after being hit by a truck on Condition Route 201 Monday early morning in Magna.

The correct result in is nonetheless less than investigation.

Continue to, Utah’s roads are seeing more design and more distraction.

“We have 175 projects all through the state. This is the time of yr that persons are going to see orange development barrels out there, our personnel out there, that are undertaking fantastic function to increase the situation on our streets,” mentioned John Gleason with the Utah Office of Transportation. “These personnel are on the front strains they’re out there attempting to enhance our life. We require to do everything we can to make confident they’re secure.”

Gleason reported Monday’s incident underscores the significance of spending consideration, in particular when you see orange.

“More and far more, we’re observing persons that are speeding as a result of the get the job done zones, that are distracted by the perform zones and just aren’t paying out consideration,” he explained.

The Utah Safety Council has found an improve in motorists needing to get a defensive driving system. This is needed for motorists with specified citations, which include failing to go about for an crisis vehicle or flashing lights.

Study: Driver disputes citation just after remaining rear-ended by UDOT truck

“In the previous 12 months we have found, I never want to say a staggering increase, but ample that everyone is having observe, the total of motorists that we require to accommodate,” reported John Wojciechowski with the Utah Security Council.

Wojciechowski reported that by the time he’s invested educating drivers more than the a long time, he is realized that most of these street incidents are preventable.

“Oftentimes we get drivers that come to the course, and they are upset that they have to take it in the initially position, but 100 per cent of them leave with a far better understanding of how to behave and be a safer driver on Utah’s roads,” he explained.

“If you are driving the identical stretch of highway 200 periods, there is this phony perception of protection that ‘I’ve completed this so several times,’ but we need to have to remember that website traffic conditions can alter all the time,” claimed Gleason.

At the most up-to-date update, the employee who was hit is nevertheless alive in the clinic in critical condition.

Officials have not however introduced no matter if the driver will experience any citations or costs in this crash.