Tamaqua employees assigned to the borough’s streets and water department wear bright green vests, like most others whose jobs place them near or on roadways.
The attire is an added safety measure for workers — and it’s meant to be noticed by motorists, state Department of Transportation spokesman Sean Brown said.
“We just want to remind people to be safe out there. It’s not just the drivers’ lives, but it’s the lives of the workers on the roadway,” Brown, who noted that April 11 marks the start of National Work Zone Safety Awareness Week, said.
Brown joined Tamaqua borough workers, police personnel and a representative from the North Central Highway Network at borough hall Monday to talk about safety equipment and remind motorists to drive safely in work zones or anywhere emergency personnel are on the road.
“Driving distracted or driving aggressively in work zones can have devastating consequences,” he said. “Workers are injured and killed every year on our roadways.”
Motorists should not only be aware of workers’ fluorescent attire, they should look for safety cones and signs that denote work areas, Brown said.
Some don’t, he said, because PennDOT often receives reports of drivers who weave through cones, speed through work areas, and drive aggressively.
“Workers are inches away from being hit,” he said.
According to Brown, motorists face increased fines and penalties for driving offenses that happen in work zones. In some cases, he said, drivers can lose their licenses.
National Work Zone Awareness Week runs through April 15.