Pennsylvania's highway construction industry is partnering with the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation and the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission to call for a safety stand-down today to prevent job site accidents.

The event, dubbed “Safer Together,” will call upon the construction industry and the motoring public to focus on work zone safety.

Nearly 50,000 people are injured or killed around U.S. transportation job sites each year, according to the Federal Highway Administration. Nearly all are avoidable.

Pennsylvania drivers will be reminded to slow down in work zones, observe posted speed limits and put down their phones when driving.

PennDOT and the turnpike commission launched the Automated Work Zone Speed Enforcement program to reduce driving speeds and change driver behavior in work zones. Motorists are encouraged to learn about the program at the safety stand-down web page: 2www.paconstructors.org/safer-together.