News Talk 94.1/AM 1600 Where The Upper Cumberland Talks
A rash of T-DOT workers injured recently while on the job and Sheriff John Garrett said distracted driving could be the biggest reason why.
T-DOT reports nearly 75 instances of workers or equipment getting hit in 2024, with several in recent weeks. Garrett said distracted driving is one of the most dangerous things we face on the road today.
“That’s probably one of the biggest things, is not paying attentions to the signage leading up to the construction zone and as you go through the construction zone and then it comes back, and once again it comes back to speeding to going to fast for the conditions of the construction zone,” Garrett said.
The Overton County Sheriff said when driving in a work zone you must be aware of all you your surroundings. Garrett said roadside work is always a dangerous job.
“You’ve got be looking for workers, you’ve got to be looking for equipment that’s moving around, you’ve got to be looking for vehicles in front of you that may be slowing or stopped,” Garrett said. “You’ve really got to keep your head on a swivel and it’s much easier to do at a slower speed.”
Garrett said depending on what a driver may or may not do, failing to follow the law in a work zone could be dangerous to the driver as well as others on the road, and also result in serious charges.
“Normally there’s enhancement factors there that could go from something as simple as the fine possibly going up considerably or it going from a misdemeanor citation to possibly a felony arrest,” Garrett said.
Garrett said workers should also be cautious of their own whereabouts on the road to keep chances of a bad situation to a minimum.
