National Work Zone Safety Awareness Week is held at the start of construction season and encourages safe driving through highway work zones. It’s important for everyone to be aware of their surroundings when driving. Northeastern REMC wants motorists to know that not all work zones are for road repair; electric line crews work along roadsides to build, repair and maintain electric power lines. Indiana’s “slow down, move over” law also protects electric line crews. 

“Routine electric line work is typically done during the daylight hours, but emergencies can happen anytime,” said Jared Boggs, NREMC's Safety Regulatory and Loss Prevention Coordinator. He continues, “We want to remind motorists our line crews can be on a roadside even on a dark, stormy night and to be careful whenever they see warning lights, cones and and flaggers.”

When motorists see an orange diamond-shaped work zone warning sign, they should slow down and prepare for the work zone ahead. 

Emergency vehicles protected by the law include:
 
•    Police vehicles
•    Ambulances
•    Fire trucks and rescue equipment
•    Highway incident-response vehicles
•    Highway maintenance vehicles
•    Utility service vehicles
•    Vehicle recovery equipment (tow trucks)
 

The “slow down, move over” law requires motorists approaching a stationary utility vehicle displaying flashing amber lights to proceed with caution. If possible, change lanes away from the vehicle (on a highway with two or more lanes), depending on safety and traffic conditions. If changing lanes is impossible or unsafe, reduce speed to at least 10 miles per hour less than the posted speed limit. Always be a courteous driver. Even if you see another vehicle, flashers on or not, parked on the roadside, slow down and attempt to move away. Violating the law can result in a fine and a suspended license if damage is caused to the equipment, or injury or death to a worker. 

"Safety is a top priority at Northeastern REMC. We want everyone, regardless of where they work, to go home to their families safely." added Boggs.

You can show your support by wearing orange this week, April 20 - 24. You can tag Northeastern REMC on Facebook and use the hashtag: #Orange4Safety.