Tahlequah Daily Press

Local News

April 11, 2008

ODOT employees from Cherokee County win awards

The local Oklahoma Department of Transportation crew was honored this week for its safety record.

Director Safety Awards were given to the Cherokee County group in Division One. Jeff Perry is the superintendent. Awards were given to those who excelled in upholding safety practices and pursuing advances in safety through the year.

ODOT annually presents safety awards to employee groups that show a commitment to safety and improvement in safety practices. Lt. Gov. Jeri Askins and ODOT Director Gary Ridley presented the awards.

ODOT reports there has been a 73 percent decrease in the total number of employee injury accidents since the program started about 20 years ago.

The decline in accidents has saved the state nearly $400,000 a year in worker compensation claims and more than $2.7 million in the last five years.

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The use of cell phones while driving is increasingly becoming an issue. What do you think about cell phone use by emergency personnel, like law enforcement officers, EMTs, firemen, etc.?

• If the law allows the common citizen to use cell phones while driving, emergency personnel should be able to also.
• Emergency personnel should be held to a higher standard. Since they are often driving faster than normal, they should not be allowed to use cell phones while driving, even if other citizens can.
• They should be allowed to use them like anyone else, but their host entities (hospitals, fire departments, cities, etc.) should carry extra insurance for this reason.
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