On this week’s edition of the Talking Michigan Transportation podcast, a conversation with Gregg Brunner, chief operations officer at the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT), about recent deadly crashes in or near work zones.

On June 24, a truck driver was killed and MDOT workers were injured in a crash on I-75 in Monroe County.

In another, July 1, two people were killed in a crash in a work zone queue on I-96 west of Portland.

Brunner composed a poignant message to department employees with a reminder of the need to be vigilant about safety.

From his message:

We talk often about safety, but these events are painful reminders of just how critical it is every single day, in every single task. Whether you're in a work zone, near active traffic, in one of our garages or facilities, or behind the wheel, your actions matter. Safety is a mindset, not a checklist. It's about being present, engaged and always looking out for one another.

Brunner talked about benefits to be found in developments in technology to alert drivers and the promise of driver-assist technologies in vehicles, as outlined by National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).