April 21, 2011
Pauls Valley Daily Democrat
Oklahoma House of Representatives
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma — State Rep. Mike Sanders today praised Gov. Mary Fallin’s signing of his legislation to increase the safety of road workers in Oklahoma.
House Bill 1061 reinstates the right of Oklahoma Department of Transportation (ODOT) employees and other road workers to use red-and-blue emergency lights. Sanders said a total of 54 ODOT employees and eight turnpike authority employees have died while working on roads in the state. That is a higher number than for any other state agency workers, he said.
“Last year, in an attempt to restrict towing services from using red-and-blue emergency lights, we also limited the use of these lights by Department of Transportation employees and other road workers,” Sanders, R-Kingfisher, said. “After we realized what dangers these workers face, reinstating their use of red-and-blue lights was the only responsible option.”
The legislation had the support of the Oklahoma Department of Public Safety, multiple fire service organizations, the Oklahoma Department of Transportation, the Oklahoma Public Employees Association, and the Association of County Commissioners of Oklahoma.
The new law will take effect Nov. 1, 2011.
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Thu, April 21, 2011
by John Cox