Anyone who’s driven much in the community has seen the orange cones and striped barrels that mark work zones, and they’ve seen the workers in reflective vests or Day-Glo shirts wielding hand tools or operating heavy machinery to repair roads, bridges and other infrastructure.

Despite all those efforts to alert drivers to the presence of the workers, more than 60 Georgia Department of Transportation employees and contractors have died in work-zone-related incidents since record-keeping began in 1973.

The Georgia DOT is observing National Work Zone Awareness Safety Week this week. The annual spring campaign, which began in 1999, is observed by federal, state and local transportation departments across the country to raise public consciousness about the need for safe driving in work zones.

The national campaign’s theme — “Work Zones are temporary. Actions behind the wheel can last forever.” — is designed to remind motorists of the importance of obeying traffic laws in active work zones and that the decisions they make while operating a motor vehicle can have significant consequences for the maintenance workers and emergency responders whose jobs have them on the roadside protecting and serving the community.

In 2023, there were:

— 13,689 work-zone related crashes in Georgia resulting in 4,891 injuries, and 62 fatalities.

— 53 percent of those work zone crashes were roadway departure and rear-end crashes.

— 13 fatalities involved commercial motor vehicles.

— 9 were pedestrian fatalities.

Georgia DOT offers these tips for approaching and driving in work zones:

— Drive safe. Work safe. Save lives. Obey the rules of work zones: (1) Pay attention. (2) Slow down (even in lighter than normal traffic). (3) Watch for workers.

— Expect the unexpected. Things may change quickly. Normal speed limits may be reduced, traffic lanes may be closed, narrowed, or shifted, and people may work on or near the road.

— Slow down. Don’t tailgate. Speed is a factor in many crashes. Keep a safe distance between you and the car ahead of you, and move over a lane to provide additional space for the construction workers and their equipment.

— Obey road crew flaggers and pay attention to signs. Failure to obey speed limit signs or a flagger’s traffic control directions can result in hefty fines and/or imprisonment imposed by law enforcement.

— Stay alert and minimize distractions. Pay full attention to the roadway and avoid changing radio stations or using cell phones and other electronic devices while driving. Remember, Georgia is a hands-free state for mobile devices while driving.

— Keep up with traffic flow. Do not slow down to gawk at road work.

— Know before you go. Expect delays, leave early and schedule enough time to drive safely. For 24/7 real-time traffic information, call 511 or visit www.511ga.org before you get into the car. And follow Georgia DOT on Twitter for additional updates.

— Be patient, and stay calm. Crews are working to improve the road and to make your drive better.

— Wear your seatbelt. It is your best defense in a crash. And make sure your passengers are buckled up, even in the back seat of the vehicle.