Nashville, Tennessee --- The busy spring road construction season is underway and National Work Zone Safety Week begins today to remind drivers to be especially careful when driving in construction zones.

The Tennessee Department of Safety and the Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT) are working together to help increase awareness among drivers about work zone safety issues during the week of April 5-10.

In observance of the Work Zone Safety Week, the Tennessee Highway Patrol (THP) will step up enforcement in work zones statewide. When motorists disregard the speed limit and ignore the warning signs, Troopers will alert them of the violation with an expensive reminder.

"Last year in Tennessee 29 people were killed in work zone crashes," said Department of Safety Commissioner Fred Phillips. "The most tragic thing is that work zone fatalities are preventable deaths. Motorists need to remember that a work zone exists to improve the roadways. Exercising a few extra seconds of caution while traveling through a construction area increases everyone's safety."

The most recent statistics available from the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration show that 1,181 people were killed nationwide in work zones in 2002. National data shows that work zone crashes occur most often on weekdays, during daylight hours, in the summer and fall months, and in zones with at least a 45 MPH speed limit.

TDOS statistics show there were a total of 5,919 crashes in work zones in 2003, and in the past three years work zone crashes have increased 67 percent statewide.

According to TDOT there are there are 16 active interstate work zones in Tennessee currently and 416 other work zone projects on other state routes, highways and other areas.

"Remember, the people who build and repair your highways are your family members, neighbors and friends," said TDOT Commissioner Gerald Nicely. "Drivers should also realize that just because they don't work on the roads they are not protected from work zone dangers. Four out of five people killed in work zone crashes are drivers and passengers."

Following are some suggestions for staying safe while driving through construction work zones:

Do not speed

• Stay alert
• Observe signs and special instructions
• Do not change lanes in work zone
• Keep pace with traffic, but do not tailgate
• Minimize distractions such as phones, loud music, reaching for things
• Be patient

"Work zones are no place for impatient or aggressive driving," added THP Colonel Lynn Pitts. "There is a high cost of ignoring warning signs in construction zones, monetarily and in the toll on lives."

This is the 5th annual National Work Zone Safety Awareness Week. It is sponsored by the Federal Highway Administration, the American Traffic Safety Services Association (ATSSA) and the American Association of State Highway Transportation Officials (AASHTO).