CHARLESTON, W.Va. — The West Virginia Department of Transportation says drivers around the state need to be more alert on the roadways during this busy season.
According to a recent release, five DOT work vehicles including snow plows have been struck in the span of a week. The release said that all of the crashes were attributed to driver error on the part of the civilian motorists.
“Why is it so difficult to pay attention when behind the wheel?” asked Transportation Secretary Stephen T. Rumbaugh. “Distracted driving is completely and totally preventable. Get off your phone. Slow down. Pay attention.”
Division of Highways spokesperson Brent Walker agrees that these accidents are fully avoidable.
“Now, it’s really coming because it’s so preventable. Slow down and get off your phone,” Walker told MetroNews.
“Let’s all go home for the holidays safety,” he continued.
Also in recent days, a Berkeley County man was killed when he drove into construction equipment in the new work zone on Rt. 340 South in Jefferson County. Franklin Runion, 60, of Inwood, died last Wednesday after he failed to negotiate a right-hand curve and struck barrels and a dirt embankment.
“People’s lives are affected and it breaks our heart. It should break everybody’s heart,” Walker said.
Walker addressed the challenges that DOH teams face during a snow event. He says workers will do their part, but drivers need to be accountable.
“We’re going to do our part. We’re going to maintain our vehicles, we’re going to plow, we’re going to pre-treat, we’re going to salt, but what we can’t do for them is slow down. We can’t buckle them up. We can’t have them turn their phone off. We can’t have them drive a vehicle that’s in working order with good tires,” he said.
“Everybody is in such a hurry now that they expect a road to be bare and dry and they can be able to drive as fast as they want.”