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| Chris Fasching |
Safety in work zones has always been emphasized at KDOT
since my very first day. I have worked in all types of work zones, from rural
two-lane to multilane interstates, and I have seen a lot of close calls. They
always get your blood pumping and make everyone on the job angry. There have
been many times that I thought a co-worker might get hurt or worse because of
an inattentive driver. But the first time it happened to me is still the most
memorable. It was just a few weeks after I started the job.
I was working on a rural section of a two-lane highway that
had some hills, curves and deep ditches. We happened to be working on a
straight section of the road, so I figured my biggest problem would be staying
alert since traffic was light. Sometimes there were several minutes between
cars.
Around 9:30 a.m. that morning, a single car was
coming in my direction. I turned to signal the other flagman that I had a car
approaching. But he was already signaling me that he was going to send a car my
way. The car coming toward me was far enough away that it had plenty of time to
stop, so I raised my paddle higher and waived it back and forth.
By then, I could see that the car was a big, old 1970s
Oldsmobile, and it seemed to be slowing down. I quickly checked on the car
coming from behind me, and it looked like it was going to pass by me about the
same time as the other car coming toward me.
But when I turned back to look at the Oldsmobile, I
realized that it wasn't slowing down like I thought. I waived the paddle faster
and tried to get his attention, but he just kept coming. The bank on my side of
the road was steep, but I couldn't get to the other side of the road because of
the car coming in the other lane behind me. That only left one way to go, and I
was out of time.
I let go of the paddle and ran for the steep bank. It was
only about six feet from the edge line to the back slope, and I had to
scramble. I heard the Oldsmobile try to stop before it ran over the flagging
paddle behind me. By the time the car stopped, about 75 feet past where I had
been standing, I was already running towards it. I was mad!
As I got closer to the car, I could see that the driver was
an older man, and the older woman in the passenger seat was hitting him with a
very large purse. After that, most of the anger went out of me. I motioned him
to back up so I could get the flagging paddle that was stuck under the car,
then I sent him on his way.
The lesson I learned is that it doesn't matter where it is
or how busy the work zone is, there is always the potential for something to go
wrong. You can never let your guard down or get complacent in a work zone.
Fortunately, KDOT has made a lot of positive changes in work
zones and will continue to look for ways to improve work zone safety. We have
larger and more reflective signs, high visibility vests and other gear,
portable rumble strips, better lights on the trucks/equipment and reliable,
handheld radios to communicate with.
But as long as there are vehicles coming through the work
zones, there will always be the possibility of something going wrong. Motorists,
please slow down and pay extra attention in work zones. I want to go home every
night to my family.
Chris Fasching has worked at KDOT for more than
30 years
