BIENVILLE PARISH, La. (KTAL/KMSS) – National Work Zone Awareness Week is going on now as the warmer weather means more and more road work is being done.

TxDOT is taking the opportunity to spread awareness about how important it is to drive safely in work zones.

“Literally inches, literally inches away from the traveling public from a passerby. Whether that be an 18-wheeler or a compact car, we’re right there in the line of fire,” says Kelli Speer, the maintenance section supervisor with TxDOT’s Texarkana office.

They are offering some reminders to drivers.

“Just pay attention to the advanced warning signs, we give ample opportunity way in advance to notify the traveling public that we are in the work in the travel lane. That could be anywhere from overhead message boards to signs on the side of the road.” says Speer.

They say it is important to have your full attention on the road.

Speer says, “The major problems that we come into is just distractions in general, whether that be you know, talking on the telephone. GPS technology has made a big vast difference in the crashes that are in the work zones.”

It is also important to pay attention to your fellow drivers in work zones.

Rebecca Wells, an engineer for TxDOT’s Atlanta district, says, “Rear end crashes, for example, tend to happen more often than any in our work zones because somebody gets distracted for just a moment and not realizing that everybody in front of them has slowed down.”

TxDOT wants everyone to be able to make it home safely.

“Many of the people that are traveling through our work zones are probably heading home to see their families. We just ask that you slow down and as you’re passing through our work zones because we have families too.” says Speers.