Highway Worker Safety Safety Bill Now Law In Oklahoma

Gov. Mary Fallin has signed into law
legislation designed to improve the on-the-job safety of Oklahoma
highway workers.
The measure by Rep. Mike Sanders of Kingfisher reinstates the
authority of state Department of Transportation employees and other
road workers to use red-and-blue emergency lights on their vehicles
when they are working on state highways. Lawmakers limited that
right last year while trying to restrict towing services from using
the lights.
Sanders says 54 Department of Transportation workers and eight
Oklahoma Turnpike Authority employees have died while working on
roads in the state. He says that’s more than any other state
agency.
The legislation is supported by the Oklahoma Department of
Public Safety and other organizations. Fallin signed the new law on
Wednesday and it takes effect on Nov. 1.