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Take care driving through work areas

It is ironic that the men and women holding flags and stop signs to keep us safe while we drive through highway work zones are in more peril than we are.

Sadly, we were especially reminded of this recently when Ohio Department of Transportation worker John Pasko, 54, of Salem, Ohio, was struck by a motorist and killed last month while doing his job on Interstate 680 in Youngstown.

Mr. Pasko’s family spoke out after the accident, calling for motorists to slow down and respect the road workers who risk their lives everyday to maintain our thoroughfares.

Accidents in work zones claim scores of lives each year. Many of them are the people repaving our roads, like Mr. Pasko, or repairing bridges and other parts of our transportation network.

Other injuries and deaths involve motorists who are struck in the work zones, often by motorists driving too fast, not obeying traffic laws or simply not paying attention.

The spring construction season is upon us. Orange barrels and traffic cones are sprouting like April flowers. Pay attention to them.

But be especially watchful of traffic controllers and highway workers. Slow down, be alert and do not be in too much of a hurry to get where you are going.

These workers would like to go home to their families, too.

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