The Tennessee Department of Transportation is joining states across the nation to ask motorists to “Drive Like You Work Here” and “Work with Us – Move Over, Slow Down” for highway workers. TDOT will spread that message statewide during National Work Zone Awareness Week (April 8-12) in an effort to improve safety in Tennessee’s interstate and highway construction and maintenance work zones.

TDOT Commissioner Clay Bright said hundreds of TDOT employees work on the state’s highways each day, and 2016 was a tragic year, as three employees were struck and killed by passing motorists. “We need motorists to work with us by moving over and slowing down for TDOT workers or first responders working along our interstates and state routes,” Bright said. “Drive like you work here, pay attention to signs, reduce your speed, and move over when possible.”

Spring and summer months are ideal for highway work. Work zones include everything from major interstate widening projects to mowing and pothole patching. Motorists will find work zones across Tennessee in downtowns, along interstates and in rural areas. Last year in Tennessee, 20 people died in work zone crashes, including workers, drivers and passengers.

To help bring awareness to the importance of safety in work zones, TDOT has launched the “Work with Us – Move Over, Slow Down” safety campaign. To learn about the campaign, see answers to many frequently asked work-zone questions and take the Work with Us pledge, click here.

Work-zone safety messages will be displayed on TDOT’s overhead dynamic message signs on interstates in Memphis, Nashville, Chattanooga and Knoxville. There will also be special displays across the state remembering the 112 TDOT workers killed on the job since 1948. These displays will be:

• on I-640, near mile marker 8 in Knoxville
• on I-75 at Exit 9 in Chattanooga
• on the I-24/I-65 junction in Nashville
• at the TDOT Regional Office, 300 Benchmark Place in Jackson

Also, be on the lookout for “Work with Us – Move Over, Slow Down” signs posted at work zones across the state this year.

Wednesday, April 10, is Wear Orange Day. Show your support for National Work Zone Awareness by wearing orange. Throughout this week, follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram as TDOT posts photos, info graphics and videos to broaden awareness of the importance of driving safely and undistracted, especially through work zones.