Increasing safety for workers on our highways

During floor debate this past week, the Senate discussed how to increase the safety of work zones and better protect the various folks who work alongside our highways in Missouri. These workers are often in danger as they are working directly next to quickly moving traffic.

Several years ago, the state adopted the “Move Over” law to bring attention to the dangers facing these workers and increase safety for the law enforcement, emergency, transportation and utility workers who work alongside our highways.

But while the law has certainly increased public awareness and improved the safety for those individuals working on our highways, there are still far too many accidents that result from careless or inattentive driving around these workers.

Just earlier this month, a Missouri Department of Transportation employee was struck and killed while he was cleaning a bridge in Franklin County. This worker was the 133rd MoDOT worker to lose his life on the job. It was a heartbreaking incident and continues to show the danger faced by these workers.

The goal of the language adopted by the Senate is to reduce these accidents and improve the safety of these workers. These changes will continue to bring awareness and enforcement to the public to be more alert in work zones and move over for law enforcement, emergency, transportation, and utility workers who are working alongside our highways.

I am glad the Senate has supported language to bolster the law and improve safety for these workers. I am hopeful we can get these changes to the Governor’s desk before the end of session.