National Work Zone Awareness Week pushes for distractionless driving

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. -- The American Traffic Safety Services Association, Federal Highway Administration, and the Colorado Department of Transportation is observing National Work Zone Awareness Week April 26th through April 30th.

This commemorative week launches the start of active construction season and encourages drivers to be safe and alert while driving through highway work zones.

State data shows that 42 crashes a day happen in Colorado due to distracted driving. Jared Miller with Colorado Springs Utilities says work zones in the city have had several incidents with distracted drivers in the last few months.

"In the last couple months we've had three incidents of the severe nature where we've had motorists enter our work zone and cause either significant property damage and or physical harm," Jared says.

Colorado Springs Utilities goes so far as to place trucks painted in bright colors and with flashing lights to further warn drivers that they are approaching a work zone and workers.

CDOT has a pledge you can sign online that shows you have made the commitment to get rid of distractions while you're on the road. You can make the pledge by clicking here.