A Warren County Department of Public Works employee was attacked by a motorist earlier this week, an incident that Warren County Public Works Superintendent Kevin Hajos said was the latest in a trend of inattentive and aggressive drivers in construction zones who endanger workers and those around them.
The Warren County DPW employee was attacked Tuesday during an encounter in which a driver swerved at him on East River Drive in Lake Luzerne, then got out of his pickup truck and punched the worker in the head, hitting his helmet. The driver was later arrested by the Warren County Sheriff’s Office and faces four charges, including two misdemeanors. The DPW staff member was not injured.
DPW staff were paving in the area.
Superintendent Hajos said Public Works crews regularly see drivers who aren’t paying attention or who disobey state laws when coming upon construction zones because they are in a hurry.
Superintendent Hajos noted: “Work zones are there because we are improving the roads that we all drive on, and they are no place for impatient or aggressive driving. The directions given at work zones are intended to get you, your family, and other motorists around you to your destination safely, and to protect our staff and contractors. We remind drivers to slow down, pay attention and be patient in work zones.”
Said Warren County Administrator John Taflan: “We understand passing through work zones can be frustrating at times and we do our best to move traffic along safely and quickly. But driving too fast or recklessly through a highway work zone is dangerous to your life, your passengers and the highway crews who are working to improve roadways and further ensure your safety while driving. In every work zone employees strive to ensure overall safety in what can be a hazardous area. These employees cannot do their jobs effectively if they have to worry about their own personal safety.“
Under New York State Law, motorists are required to slow down, be alert and drive carefully in all work zones.
They are also required to move over a lane if safely possible for all vehicles stopped along the road, including any vehicles displaying red, white, blue, amber or green lights that indicate emergency response vehicles, tow trucks and highway construction and maintenance vehicles.
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