How Can I Save a Life?

How would you like to put your life on the line everyday?  Our people do it - all 5,525 PENNDOT maintenance employees and thousands of contractors' employees.

Maintaining the fourth largest state-highway system in the nation is a big task.  Pennsylvania's 42,000 miles of roadways and 25,000 bridges require constant attention to keep them safe and well-maintained.  PENNDOT and our contractors go to great lengths to provide safe work areas for you and other motorists.  Most drivers, however, never consider the safety of our people.

We know highway work can cause delays, frustrations and inconveniences.  However, inattentive motorists can cause accidents, injuries and deaths.  Over a six-year period alone, 138 people - motorists and highway workers - lost their lives.  Since 1982 more than 8,400 people have been injured in work zone accidents.  Most of these deaths and accidents could have been avoided if motorists would have taken the time to slow down, read the signs, and cared enough to be alert.

You may have yourself the following questions upon approaching a highway work site.  We hope the answers you will read keep you patient in your travels.  Remember, the people behind the barriers and under the hard hats are depending on you to..."Give 'em a Brake."