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March 30, 2017
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National work zone awareness week is April 3-7



The start of spring signals the start of a busy season of construction and maintenance work on Missouri's nearly 34,000 miles of state roads and bridges. MoDOT reminds motorists of the importance of driving safely through work zones with the observance of National Work Zone Awareness Week, April 3-7. #ORANGEFORSAFETY

Motorists are reminded to slow down, put their phone down and pay attention as they drive past work zones. Not all work zones look alike. Work zones can be moving operations, such as striping, patching or mowing. They can also be short-term, temporary lane closures to make quick repairs or remove debris from the roadway.

Driver inattention was the number one cause of work zone crashes last year. The average text takes five seconds to read. Traveling at 55 mph, you will travel more than the length of a football field - blindfolded. MoDOT's slow moving maintenance operations move as slow as 10 mph, and if you aren't paying attention to the road, you will come up on the closed lane very quickly.

Any time highway workers are present on a Missouri roadway - whether it's a long term lane closure, a moving operation, or shoulder work - your safety and the safety of those workers depends on drivers' focus and attention. Since 2012, the state Slow Down and Move Over law includes MoDOT vehicles parked with amber/white lights flashing. Motorists are required to slow down and change lanes when approaching MoDOT vehicles or law enforcement and emergency vehicles with lights flashing.

"The law is simple: If you see flashing lights on the side of the road, move over to give workers and emergency personnel plenty of room to stay safe," said MoDOT Chief Engineer Ed Hassinger. "If you can't move over on a crowded highway, you should slow down as you pass them. We want you and our workers to make it home safe every day."

Work zone safety is a serious matter. Click here to check out current statistics and to comment on MoDOT work zones - Work Zone Awareness Week.
Join the Movement!
Take the pledge: when you get into any vehicle, buckle up your safety belt. If you are a driver, put the cellphone down.  Join the 145 people (27 of which represent business) who have taken the pledge so far. 

Click the image below to accept the challenge!

Social Media
Work Zones are
No Phone Zones

Click here to watch a short video featuring Barrel Bob reminding motorists that work zones are no phone zones -
Work Zones are No Phone Zones.
Safer Roadways
Traffic safety presentation available

 The hOUR Project is a traffic safety presentation that takes approximately one hour of your time to talk about something that is OUR problem - serious injury crashes and fatalities. Geared toward businesses and organizations statewide, this presentation stresses the importance of keeping employees safe while working in company vehicles and when they're driving to and from work. 

Many corporations have recognized a compelling need to provide education about the dangers of distracted driving, including the use of cell phones while driving, along with the importance of consistent seat belt use. 

The Association of Missouri Electric Cooperatives (AMEC) Risk Management and Training Department recently partnered with MoDOT to develop this effective training program. By using the hOUR Project and adapting it to fit the needs of our cooperatives by pairing it with virtual driving interactive simulators, AMEC was able to quickly roll out a comprehensive safe driving training package that began in January.

"During the first quarter of 2017, AMEC's training instructors have presented this training to eight of Missouri's rural electric cooperatives and will deliver it to an additional 24 cooperatives by the end of this year," said AMEC training instructor, Bruce Stumpe. "The program will remain a permanent component of AMEC's safety training services for the nearly 3,000 rural electric cooperative employees across our state," he said.

There's still time for businesses to take advantage of the hOUR Project presentation. Upon request, this safety presentation can be brought to your business management or safety team, conference or safety meeting.

To learn more about the hOUR Project and request the presentation for your organization, click here - hOUR Project.
Have You Seen This?
How it works - concrete repair

Concrete repair on the roadway - ever wonder how it works? Click the image to watch this short video featuring our workers performing the operation on U.S. Route 50 in Jefferson City to find out!


MoDOT extends special oversize load permit, 
waives trip and fuel permit for farm trucks participating in wildfire disaster relief

A continuing need for agricultural assistance in neighboring states struck by wildfires prompted MoDOT, at the request of Gov. Eric Greitens and in consultation with the Missouri Department of Agriculture, to extend the availability of special oversize load permits. In addition, MoDOT is temporarily suspending the need for trip and fuel tax permit for those hauling hay, fencing and other materials in order to streamline relief efforts. 

Oversize permits are required of loads exceeding 8'6" in width. A special oversize permit, available now through May 8, 2017, for overwide loads of hay will:
  • Be issued free of charge
  • Be issued up to 12' wide (load length, height and weight must remain within legal limits) 
  • Allow travel during curfew hours and at night
These continuous movement oversize permits are only available to those hauling hay in direct response to disaster relief efforts.
 
Drivers must abide by all other permit regulations including the use of reflective oversize load signs and clearance lights instead of flags at the edges of loads when hauling at night or when visibility is less than 500 feet.

For assistance obtaining an oversize permit, carriers may contact MoDOT Motor Carrier Services at 1-800-877-8499 between 7:30 a.m. and 5:00 p.m.

MoDOT also waives the temporary fuel and trip registration permits for these moves. Drivers do not need to carry a copy of the waiver, however links to the waivers can be found online at http://www.modot.org/mcs/news.htm.
Fatality Update



Did you know... between 2012-2014, head-on crashes accounted for 14 percent of Missouri's roadway fatalities, with nearly half of those taking place on Missouri numbered routes.   

Statewide Fatality Totals
as reported on the
Missouri State Highway Patrol
website  as of March 26, 2017:

        2017 Totals as of 3-26-17 - 176
        2016 Totals as of 3-26-16 - 186
        2015 Totals as of 3-26-15 - 162
        2014 Totals as of 3-26-14 - 143 
        2013 Totals as of 3-26-13 - 133
        2012 Totals as of 3-26-12 - 179



Missouri Dept. of Transportation | (888) 275-6636
P.O. Box 270 Jefferson City, MO 65102-0270