28 drivers have crashed into TDOT crews so far this year

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) — More than two dozen drivers have crashed into Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT) vehicles already this year, prompting officials to reiterate the importance of the “Work With Us, Move Over, Slow Down” campaign started in 2017.

This comes after TDOT workers were killed in crashes back in 2016.

In just the last three months, 28 drivers have crashed into TDOT crews working on the roads. The latest crash happened on Monday, March 25, on I-40 in Putnam County. Thankfully there were no injuries.

“I think it goes without saying that nothing is as important as your life or one of our TDOT workers’ lives,” said Rae-Anne Bradley, the regional communications officer for TDOT. “On I-40 East in Putnam County near Cookeville, we had one of our crew cabs hit on the shoulder of the interstate. That crew cab, that TDOT worker, was picking up litter on the side of the interstate.”

Officials said the crashes are happening at all hours of the day and night and in different whether conditions, so there is no pattern other than distracted driving. The high volume of wrecks is concerning to officials, who said they put up warnings on the road whenever workers are present.

“So, for example, if we’re out performing a pothole patching operation, we’ll have an attenuator truck out there; if it’s a construction project, we’ll have a variety of traffic control devices in place, like barrels, portable message boards, things like that,” said Bradley.

Not including Monday’s crash, here’s a breakdown of what’s been hit this year, according to TDOT officials:

• 7 HELP trucks
• 4 Attenuators
• 6 Other TDOT equipment (dump trucks and message boards, etc.)
• 10 TDSOT passenger vehicles ( pick-ups and sedans)

As we move forward into the rest of the year, TDOT officials are working to promote the Work With Us, Move Over, Slow Down campaign, which could end up saving a life.

“We want our workers to get home safe to their families at night and we want drivers to get to their destinations and back to their families at night at the end of the day. It’s really that simple,” said Bradley.

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