Annapolis, Md. (April 2, 2014) – Demonstrating the O’Malley-Brown Administration’s commitment to highway safety, Governor  Martin O’Malley and Lt. Governor Anthony Brown today declared April as Work Zone Safety Awareness Month.  Maryland’s declaration complements the National Work Zone Awareness Week Observance April 7 – 11.
 

“Thanks to the passage of the Transportation Infrastructure Investment Act last year, we are investing more to help rebuild our infrastructure, which translates into more highway work zones throughout Maryland in the coming months and years,” said Governor O’Malley.  “As we work to create a 21st Century transportation system, we urge motorists to focus on their driving and slow down, be alert and remain patient at all times – especially when traveling through work zones.  By doing so we can save lives.” 

 

 “We must do everything in our power to protect highway workers who put their lives on the line every day as they work to ensure our roadways are safe,” said Lt. Governor Brown.  “We owe it to these hard working men and women to drive with extra caution and awareness as we travel through work zones.”
 

Tragically, Maryland lost five highway workers in traffic crashes in the last 15 months.  During calendar year 2013, there were eight fatalities in work zone crashes, four of them drivers or passengers traveling through construction areas. 
 

Cick here to view the proclamation. Below is the wording:
 

Whereas, Maryland is committed to performing inspection, maintenance and construction work to ensure a safe, well-maintained roadway system; and
 

Whereas, work zones will be active daily throughout the State, and we must protect highway workers as they courageously work to improve the safety and quality of life of those traveling Maryland’s roadways; and
 

Whereas, we recognize those who work in roadway construction and maintenance, as well as traffic engineers, traffic operations personnel, toll workers, law enforcement officers, emergency personnel and others whose work environments include the open road and we honor those who have been injured or lost in the line of duty; and
 

Whereas, Maryland is raising drivers’ awareness of the need to slow down, stay alert, avoid distractions and obey signs and flag persons in work zones with the aid of automated enforcement and other education and enforcement efforts to prevent crashes and injuries;
 

NOW, THEREFORE, I, MARTIN O’MALLEY, GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF MARYLAND, do hereby proclaim the month of April 2014 as WORK ZONE SAFETY AWARENESS MONTH and the week of April 7-11, 2014 as WORK ZONE SAFETY AWARENESS WEEK in Maryland, and do commend this observance to all of our citizens.

 

 

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