Teenage drivers learn the importance of work zone safety and share their experiences

Yuma, Arizona (KYMA, KECY) – Yuma County Public Works visited Gila Ridge High School (GRHS) on Thursday to provide teen drivers with work zone awareness and safety tips.

This is all part of the National Work Zone Awareness Week.

The goal is to educate students about work zone safety and to understand the meaning of various construction signs.

Yuma County Public Works Superintendent Samuel Mendoza said it’s important to keep workers safe and keep the roads clean.

“I think young drivers are most preoccupied with texting, driving, playing with music and the radio, so we wanted to bring this awareness to this area,” says Mendoza.

made by the county short video Included was an actual clip of a worker nearly beaten to demonstrate the reality of the distraction for students to see in class.

GRHS senior and KYMA colleague Zachary Williams not only saw the accident happen in the construction zone, but was also a victim.

“And I myself had a motorcycle accident because someone stopped abruptly because they didn’t know what to do,” Williams says.

according to National Workzone Safety Information ClearinghouseArizona will have a total of 22 deaths in 2021, bringing the national death toll to over 900.

In 2021, there will be approximately 106,000 total work zone crashes nationwide.

“Work zone fatalities are very high in Arizona,” says Mendoza.

Senior Ahmie Marin says it’s important for students to know how to work with work zones.

“It’s important to me because those are lives while driving, and if you’re not responsible, you can be responsible for someone else’s life, and being responsible on the road can be responsible for someone else’s life. Because it affects you,” Malin says.

To stay alert while driving, don’t eat, text, or wear makeup while driving.

“Frankly, if you see signs like orange or flashing lights, watch out for construction zones and slow down,” Marin repeats.

Yuma County Public Works wants to remind communities of the spring pavement improvement projects underway throughout the county, so please refrain from distracted driving.

For more information on road maintenance projects, please visit: website.