Each year, spring signals the start of construction season across western Wisconsin. That has the Department of Transportation reminding you to stay alert when you’re driving through work zones.

The agency recently launched a new work zone advertisement campaign. It also produced a new educational video for younger drivers who are just getting behind the wheel for the first time.

It only runs 11 minutes, but the new video is filled with the real-life consequences of work zone collisions.

From 1997 to 2006, the DOT says there have been close to 11,200 crash-related injuries in work zones across the state.

"Anytime you have 33,000 cars a day running through a project, much less reducing the traffic lanes, it creates quite a hazard for both the workers and the traveling public,” said Don Andre, Project Engineer for the Clairemont Avenue construction in Eau Claire.

Andre says road crews take measures to keep themselves safe, like performing traffic control and wearing safety vests. But, eh says they need your help.

"With everybody working and trucks going in and out, merging in and out of lanes, it's imperative to make sure you're what's happening in front of you."

To try and keep the worst from happening.

"Many counties have had people, employees either injured or have had very close calls over the years,” said Tom Walther with the Eau Claire County Highway Department.

Walther says the new driver education video, titled “Safer in the Zone”, could help reduce the thousands of work zone crashes that happen each year. And construction crews agree.

"We want to make safety a #1 important thing out here, and anything the DOT does to promote that I this is well worth the money,” Andre said.

"All these people have families and they want to come home alive at night,” added Walther.

The Eau Claire Police Department is watching for speeders on Clairemont Avenue during the construction project. So far, crews say that effort is making a huge improvement when it comes to safety.