/ Modified jun 14, 2016 4:23 p.m.

State Steps Up Safety Campaign for Road Workers

2 deaths in two weeks leads transportation officials to add signage statewide.

By Stina Sieg, KJZZ Radio

In less than two weeks, two road workers have been killed on Arizona highways, leading the state transportation agency to expand placement of electronic signs reminding drivers to be cautious.

The signs are simple and somber: "2 Road Workers Killed This Month - Drive Alert," they say.

The signs went up Monday afternoon, the same day a contract worker for the Arizona Department of Transportation was struck on the Loop 101 in Scottsdale. He later died.

Earlier this month, a tow truck driver was killed when helping a motorist on Interstate 10 near Benson.

"Any time you see that someone was killed, you should take that to heart, and think for a moment and realize, ‘What am I doing?’" said Doug Pacey, a state transportation agency spokesman. "Don’t drive distracted. Pay attention in the work zone. These two deaths were probably avoidable. And that’s what makes it so tragic."

Pacey said there are between 70 and 80 signs up throughout the state, and they should stay up throughout the week.

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