You may think Pennsylvania has four seasons, but “there are really only two seasons, Winter and Road Construction,” according to Sean A. Brown, PennDOT Safety Press Officer for Engineering District Five, which includes Tamaqua.

Brown made the statement Monday morning at a news conference to announce the week of April 11 as National Work Zone Awareness Week. The announcement was made at Tamaqua Borough Hall as PennDOT joined forces with the North Central Highway Safety Network, Tamaqua Police and Tamaqua Borough workers. The campaign is dedicated to urging safety for road workers and emergency responders.“There are a lot of people who will be working along Pennsylvania’s highways and byways in the coming months,” noted Brown. “They are always just inches from harm, at the mercy of distracted and aggressive drivers. Local and state road construction workers, utility crews, ambulance personnel and police officers, all will find themselves at risk over the next months.”Work zone penalties increased in recent years in an effort to cut down on the number of injured and killed workers.Fines have doubled, jail time has increased and there’s an automatic 15-day license suspension for anyone convicted of driving dangerously in a work zone. Driving dangerously includes going 11 miles per hour or more than the posted speed limit, being involved in a crash or driving at an unsafe speed.In 2014, 377 motorists had their licenses suspended due to work-zone violations.Safety tipsPennDOT offers the following safety tips for dealing with road construction season.• Drive the posted work-zone speed limit.• Stay alert and pay close attention to signs and flaggers.• Turn on your headlights if signs instruct you to do so. Headlights are required in all active work zones.• Maintain a safe distance around vehicles. Don’t tailgate.• Use four-way flashers when stopped or traveling slowly.• Avoid distractions and give your full attention to the road.• Always buckle up.• Expect the unexpected.• Be patient.If motorists follow these tips, everyone will be able to arrive alive.