SECOND REGULAR SESSION

House Concurrent Resolution No. 22

93RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY

5184L.01I

      Whereas, Missouri highway work zone crashes resulted in 5,852 injuries and 97 deaths to motorists between 1999 and 2003; and

            Whereas, in 2004, three Missouri Department of Transportation employees were killed and 69 injured in work zones; and

            Whereas, 28 Missouri State Highway Patrolmen have given the ultimate sacrifice, including seven Missouri State Highway Patrolmen who were killed along side Missouri's highways since 2001; and 16 Missouri State Highway Patrol vehicles have been involved in traffic accidents in the last twelve months; and

            Whereas, highway injuries and fatalities are the result of driver inattention and the failure of drivers to slow down and move over in work zones or upon approach of emergency vehicles; and

            Whereas, highway workers, including employees of the Missouri Department of Transportation, Missouri State Highway Patrol, law enforcement agencies, emergency medical services personnel, and highway contractors, regularly must work within the public right of way and in close proximity to traffic; and  

            Whereas, many of the causes of highway work deaths are preventable, including driver inattention, driving too fast for conditions, failing to yield right of way, following too closely and changing lanes improperly; and

            Whereas, the Missouri General Assembly passed House Bill No. 1270 and House Bill No. 2032 in 2002 to require Missouri motorists to move over one lane or slow down when approaching parked emergency motor vehicles on highway right-of-ways; and

            Whereas, public awareness of the need for greater caution and care by motorists while driving through highway work zones, while promoting safe practices by highway workers in highway work zones must be increased in the state of Missouri; and

            Whereas, the Missouri General Assembly desires to promote highway worker safety and to encourage motorists traveling through Missouri highway work zones to exercise caution and care; and

            Whereas, the Missouri General Assembly desires to generate an increased awareness of Missouri's law to move over or slow down when approaching stationary emergency vehicles in order to avoid the recent tragedies experienced by the Missouri State Highway Patrol:

            Now, therefore, be it resolved that the members of the House of Representatives of the Ninety-third General Assembly, Second Regular Session, the Senate concurring therein, hereby strongly encourage the Missouri Department of Transportation to create individual highway signs detailing the name and date of highway workers, emergency workers, and highway patrol officers injured or killed on Missouri highways and erect such signs at the location of the injury or death. The Missouri Department of Transportation shall not create or erect such highway signs unless the immediate family members of the highway workers, emergency workers, or highway patrol officers approve of the sign's creation; and

            Be it further resolved that the Chief Clerk of the Missouri House of Representatives be instructed to prepare a properly inscribed copy of this resolution for the Missouri Department of Transportation.