It’s road construction season in North Dakota.
And the Department of Transportation is encouraging drivers to be safe around work zones.
"You need to pay attention as you're traveling through," said state DOT director Grant Levi. "Stay off of that smart phone. Please don't be texting, and pay attention."
Levi said last year, there were 155 crashes in work zones, and one person was killed.
"Troopers issued over 1000 citations last year in construction zones last year," said North Dakota Highway Patrol Lt. Tom Iverson. "Not surprisingly, speeding was the most common violation observed."
If you are picked up for speeding in a construction zone with workers present, the fines start at $80.
The head of the Associated general Contractors of North Dakota said distracted driving is becoming a bigger problem. Russ Hanson said nationally, the AGC has a campaign called "Don't Be That Driver."
"If you're a distracted river, you're four times more likely to be involved in an accident," said Hanson. "When you see the orange cone, drop the phone."
Levi said it's going to be a busy construction season, and he again urges drivers to plan ahead -- and slow down in workzones.
"You come up to a 10-mile construction zone, and we require you to slow down by 10 miles an hour, it will only take you 75 seconds longer," Levi said. "You could be saving someone's life, either the pesron working out there or your own."
