Public Employee Press

Work Zone Awareness
DOT workers have a message to drivers: Slow down!

DC 37 backs a public awareness campaign about the dangers faced by Dept. of Transportation road repair crews.

By JOE LOPEZ

The next time you drive past a work zone, remember one important thing - slow down!

The men and women out there repairing the roads, bridges, sidewalks and highways so that you can safely return to your family after a long day on the job also have families waiting for them to come home. Crews find their lives at risk every time a speedster blasts by, also putting the driver's own life on the line.

The men and women who do the work out on our roadways and all over our city are our most precious resource," said New York City Dept. of Transportation Commissioner Polly Trottenberg at a March 24 press conference at the Brooklyn Army Terminal, kicking off the city's observation of National Work Zone Awareness Week.

Trottenberg was joined by a number of elected officials and labor leaders, including Local 1157 President Michael Coppola and Local 1455 President Michael DeMarco

"The safety cones you see out there are the lifelines for our people, and all we ask is that the public respect them and be aware of what's going on," said Coppola

"This is the most important thing we do as union workers - keeping our members safe," said DeMarco

"Our members are out there day and night in all different kinds of conditions doing what we can to make the city better. If a Police Officer was out there with
traffic lights, we'd stop for them; do the same for our workers on the roads," DeMarco said.

A new advertising campaign by the DOT highlights the two hats that workers wear — one while out fixing the streets and the other at home as a parent, child or sibling.

"All we ask the public is to be more aware and patient," said Local 376 Construction Laborer Mike Pucciarelli.

Local 983 President Joe Puleo echoed that protecting our members is always a priority. The local represents 300 workers on the roads, expanding to 50 more by July.

"Our members work hard keeping our roadways safe, the public should recognize that and do what they can to keep the workers out of harm's way," Puleo said.

Nearly two dozen city DOT workers have been injured in work zone incidents since 2009 and seven died during the past two decades. Eight-five percent of people killed in work zones are motorists or passengers.