Oklahoma transportation officials are rolling out digital messaging boards to address distracted driving, which has caused over 1,300 work zone crashes this year and claimed 63 lives in 2022.

Combating Distracted Driving

The Oklahoma Department of Transportation (ODOT) showcased the new digital messaging boards, which are now mounted on its service vehicles. The boards are designed to grab drivers’ attention immediately, especially in high-speed work zones.

According to ODOT, there were 1,347 work zone crashes statewide from January through July 2023. The Oklahoma Highway Patrol reported that distracted driving caused 63 fatalities in 2022.

Transportation leaders say they have witnessed the devastating impact of these crashes. T.J. Dill, chief engineer for ODOT, said, “I have been back at ODOT for almost two years. In those two years, we have attended the funerals of two of our ODOT family members and one of our OTA family members.”

The Oklahoma Turnpike Authority is also adopting the same technology to reduce crashes and improve safety in work zones across Oklahoma.

Original reporting: Oklahoma City News Feed (HLL/CB) — read the source article.