COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) – As part of National Work Zone Awareness Week, departments of transportation are reminding drivers to pay attention to crews working out on the roads.

It’s a reminder the Ohio Department of Transport shares all year round, but it’s sending it out again as the weather gets nicer. With warmer weather comes more road projects.

“These are preventable crashes, there’s no reason for them to happen,” said Matt Bruning, ODOT press secretary, about work zone-related crashes.

Nearly 1,000 projects will be happening around the state this construction season, according to ODOT. Each of those projects involves a crew.

“Slow down in those work zones, pay attention to what’s going on around you, pay attention to those workers, because we have way too many crashes in work zones — and with deadly consequences,” Bruning said.

There were more than 4,000 work zone-related crashes in 2023, per state statistics. More than 1.400 people were hurt and nine were killed, including one contractor. Bruning said in the vast majority of incidents, it’s the driver or their passenger who end up worse off.

“The message about being safe in work zones is as much for our people and our contractors that are out there working as it is for you as a driver,” Bruning said.

While many crashes include snow plows, the number of crews hit this year is on pace to exceed last year’s total. There were 56 crashes in 2023; Bruning said there’s been 43 in 2024.

“It’s ridiculous that we’re already at 43, and we haven’t even gotten into the summer,” Bruning said.