ODOT & OTA stress Work Zone Awareness Month in April
'Avoid the avoidable,' said Jeff Garder, the Director of Construction for the Oklahoma Turnpike Authority.
LOCAL NEWS: City of OKC hosts special collection April 12
In front of the State Department of Transportation, a memorial stands tall bearing the names of employees who lost their lives after being hit by cars while doing their job on Oklahoma roadways.
You may remember recent names like Terry Clubb, Ira Henderson, Tim Vandiver, Gordan Pipkin, Jerrell Gray, and Rickie Nichols Jr.
The most recent name added to the memorial is from December, when ODOT employee Jaden Jackson was killed while on the job in LeFlore County.
Johnathan Brooks, an engineer with ODOT, said other road workers are alive but carry the scars.
'Personally, I know contractors that have been hit and have been in the hospitals for months and months,' said Brooks.
It's something that can be avoided, and that's the focus in April, Work Zone Awareness Month.
Garder said as temperatures rise, so does the number of active work zones.
'Its favorable conditions to get work done,' said Garder.
Right now, there are more than 100 road projects across the state.
After a crash, tie-ups and cleanup can take hours.
LOCAL NEWS: New policy for animal intake at OKC Animal Welfare
'You're between barrier wall, and you're in a tighter configuration, where it's harder for first responders to get to the scene,' said Garder.
Secondary accidents are also a risk.
'People have to slow down right? And brake their brakes really suddenly,' said Brooks.
So remember, put away your distractions, drive the speed limit, and watch out for those making your commute better in the long run.
Remember, buckling up may seem like a 'no-brainer,' but ODOT said Oklahoma is among the ten states where drivers and passengers are least likely to use seat belts.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Yahoo
ODOT crew's equipment struck by distracted driver in Cleveland, officials say
CLEVELAND (WJW) – An early morning crash on Thursday highlights the growing danger faced by roadside workers in Ohio. According to the Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT), one of their contractors was struck around 2 a.m. while performing a striping operation on I-271 North near Rockside Road in Cleveland. There were no reported injuries. Young boy dies in Mansfield; detectives believe child was left in hot vehicle The crew had all proper safety signage and a crash impact attenuator in place behind the striping truck. Despite these precautions, a driver—distracted by their phone—plowed into the work zone, officials said. 'The driver got out of the vehicle still using the phone, still distracted,' said Brent Kovacs of ODOT District 12. According to Kovacs, this incident marks the 72nd time an ODOT crew has been struck in 2025 alone. Last year, 88 work crews were hit across the state. VIDEO: Fireball streaks across sky in South Carolina 'We're definitely on pace to surpass last year's numbers, and that's unfortunate because it's completely avoidable,' Kovacs said. Distracted driving is not only dangerous, it's illegal. In Ohio, using a cell phone or electronic device while driving is banned and violators can face tickets and fines. ODOT is urging drivers to stay alert, especially during the busy summer construction season. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Hamilton Spectator
6 days ago
- Hamilton Spectator
NASCAR's Cup Series to debut In-Season Challenge as $1 million backdrop to points race for title
HAMPTON, Ga. (AP) — The debut of NASCAR's In-Season Challenge in Saturday night's Cup Series race in Atlanta generated differing opinions and expectations from drivers. After all, there's a points race to attend to. Every team's top priority is qualifying for the playoffs and trying to win the championship. Some drivers acknowledge they simply haven't paid attention to the new race within the race. Joey Logano says he sees no reason to view the new tournament as a distraction. 'If there's something to win, you want to go win it,' Logano said Friday. Denny Hamlin is the No. 1 seed in the 32-driver In-Season Challenge, a five-race, bracket-style tournament. Chase Briscoe, who held off Hamlin for his first win for Joe Gibbs Racing last week at Pocono Raceway, is the No. 2 seed. A $1 million prize awaits the winner as part of a new media rights deal that includes TNT. Briscoe said Friday he felt 'definitely a sigh of relief, you know, just a weight off your shoulders' following last week's win. He said that sense of relief was shortlived. 'I'm expected to win multiple races, not just one,' Briscoe said. 'It's a sense of relief, but also more pressure because now they know you can win.' NASCAR hopes the tournament generates mid-season interest. The single-elimination format cuts the field to 16 at Chicago, eight at Sonoma, four at Dover and the final two at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Many drivers expect their interest in the tournament will increase after Saturday night's race. 'I think some of the drivers have been kind of dismissive over the bracket challenge,' said Brad Keselowski, who enters the race No. 30 in the points standings and in need of a win in Atlanta to earn a playoff spot in his RFK Racing Ford. 'I think it'll become a lot more real, whether it be for the drivers or for the media or the fans, as it progresses into the later rounds over the next few weeks,' Keselowski said. Added Ricky Stenhouse, who is 24th in the points race, of the new tournament: 'It's cool. I think after this weekend you'll have a little better idea of what you have. Our main goal in Atlanta is winning and getting into the playoffs.' Drawing 'Uncle' Noah Briscoe is facing No. 31 seed Noah Gragson in the first bracket. He says it's a difficult matchup, in part because 'he's actually probably my best friend on the circuit … and my son's favorite driver.' Briscoe said his 3-year-old son, Brooks, thinks of Gragson 'like that uncle that just you take your kid to, and he has Pop-Tarts and ice cream and everything else when he's with them.' Added Briscoe: 'Hopefully I'll win. If not I'll never here the end of it from Noah or my son.' Briscoe posted a photo on his X account of his son's bracket . The photo shows the smiling Brooks holding a bracket with his father's No. 19 winning every round of the tournament. Racing for Rhealynn Chase Elliott has a special paint scheme on his No. 9 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet that was designed by 11-year-old cancer patient Rhealynn Mills. Elliott chose Mills' design to highlight his foundation's efforts to raise money for Children's Healthcare of Atlanta. Elliott said the 'Design to Drive' program has raised $500,000 for the children's hospital. 'The only bad thing is I feel like we've crashed every time we've done it,' Elliott said, adding his sponsor, NAPA Auto Parts, deserved credit 'for giving up the car' so the paint scheme could instead feature Mills' design. New name for Atlanta track EchoPark Speedway is the new name for the track that was still known as Atlanta Motor Speedway in February when Christopher Bell won while leading only the final lap in overtime. It's the home track for Elliott, from Dawsonville, Georgia, and he acknowledged seeing the name change and the new green paint 'was different for me. I think it's fine.' Odds and ends Ryan Blaney is the favorite (+800) to win the race, per BetMGM Sportsbook. Joey Logano and Austin Cindric, each at +1000, were next. ___ AP auto racing:
Fox Sports
6 days ago
- Fox Sports
NASCAR's Cup Series to debut In-Season Challenge as $1 million backdrop to points race for title
Associated Press HAMPTON, Ga. (AP) — The debut of NASCAR's In-Season Challenge in Saturday night's Cup Series race in Atlanta generated differing opinions and expectations from drivers. After all, there's a points race to attend to. Every team's top priority is qualifying for the playoffs and trying to win the championship. Some drivers acknowledge they simply haven't paid attention to the new race within the race. Joey Logano says he sees no reason to view the new tournament as a distraction. 'If there's something to win, you want to go win it,' Logano said Friday. Denny Hamlin is the No. 1 seed in the 32-driver In-Season Challenge, a five-race, bracket-style tournament. Chase Briscoe, who held off Hamlin for his first win for Joe Gibbs Racing last week at Pocono Raceway, is the No. 2 seed. A $1 million prize awaits the winner as part of a new media rights deal that includes TNT. Briscoe said Friday he felt 'definitely a sigh of relief, you know, just a weight off your shoulders' following last week's win. He said that sense of relief was shortlived. 'I'm expected to win multiple races, not just one,' Briscoe said. 'It's a sense of relief, but also more pressure because now they know you can win.' NASCAR hopes the tournament generates mid-season interest. The single-elimination format cuts the field to 16 at Chicago, eight at Sonoma, four at Dover and the final two at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Many drivers expect their interest in the tournament will increase after Saturday night's race. 'I think some of the drivers have been kind of dismissive over the bracket challenge,' said Brad Keselowski, who enters the race No. 30 in the points standings and in need of a win in Atlanta to earn a playoff spot in his RFK Racing Ford. 'I think it'll become a lot more real, whether it be for the drivers or for the media or the fans, as it progresses into the later rounds over the next few weeks,' Keselowski said. Added Ricky Stenhouse, who is 24th in the points race, of the new tournament: 'It's cool. I think after this weekend you'll have a little better idea of what you have. Our main goal in Atlanta is winning and getting into the playoffs.' Drawing 'Uncle' Noah Briscoe is facing No. 31 seed Noah Gragson in the first bracket. He says it's a difficult matchup, in part because 'he's actually probably my best friend on the circuit … and my son's favorite driver.' Briscoe said his 3-year-old son, Brooks, thinks of Gragson 'like that uncle that just you take your kid to, and he has Pop-Tarts and ice cream and everything else when he's with them.' Added Briscoe: 'Hopefully I'll win. If not I'll never here the end of it from Noah or my son.' Briscoe posted a photo on his X account of his son's bracket. The photo shows the smiling Brooks holding a bracket with his father's No. 19 winning every round of the tournament. Racing for Rhealynn Chase Elliott has a special paint scheme on his No. 9 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet that was designed by 11-year-old cancer patient Rhealynn Mills. Elliott chose Mills' design to highlight his foundation's efforts to raise money for Children's Healthcare of Atlanta. Elliott said the 'Design to Drive' program has raised $500,000 for the children's hospital. 'The only bad thing is I feel like we've crashed every time we've done it,' Elliott said, adding his sponsor, NAPA Auto Parts, deserved credit 'for giving up the car' so the paint scheme could instead feature Mills' design. New name for Atlanta track EchoPark Speedway is the new name for the track that was still known as Atlanta Motor Speedway in February when Christopher Bell won while leading only the final lap in overtime. It's the home track for Elliott, from Dawsonville, Georgia, and he acknowledged seeing the name change and the new green paint 'was different for me. I think it's fine.' Odds and ends Ryan Blaney is the favorite (+800) to win the race, per BetMGM Sportsbook. Joey Logano and Austin Cindric, each at +1000, were next. ___ AP auto racing: recommended
