In 2016 alone, there were 765 people killed in work zone wrecks. Now Troy officials are joining with the state to warn people about the hazards associated with work zones.

“Work zones are very dangerous,” said Jacob Fannin, who oversees occupational health and safety for the city. “When people approach a work zone they need to slow way down. You never know when an employee might misstep or a vehicle might swerve into a work zone and kill somebody. When you mix a large amount of heavy traffic with pedestrians, it’s tough.”

And it isn’t just the pedestrians that people need to be worried about. Of the 765 deaths in 2016, 635 of those deaths were drivers and passengers. Only 125 of the deaths were pedestrians or bicyclists.

Still, pedestrians are especially at risk with nothing to protect them in the case of a collision.

Fannin said it doesn’t matter what road the work zone is, it is always dangerous.

“Whether you’re on South Brundidge or Interstate 65, we want people to be conscious that lives are at stake,” Fannin said. “There are a lot of pedestrians in those work zones.”

Among tips for dealing with work zone traffic are checking about work zones before leaving, wearing a seatbelt, driving the speed limit, obeying road signs and remaining patient and calm.