Drivers in Oklahoma who get certain citations in highway work zones now have an alternative to paying a fine: complete an online safety course, and the citation can be dismissed. The Work Zone Citation Forgiveness Program, run by the Oklahoma Department of Public Safety, was created under the Operation Work Zone Awareness Act passed by the state Legislature.
The course focuses on what highway crews deal with every shift. Students learn about the dangers workers face in construction zones, review safety statistics, hear personal stories from the field, and pick up safe driving practices for navigating roadwork. Officials with the Oklahoma Highway Safety Office and the Oklahoma Highway Patrol say the goal is reducing preventable crashes and fatalities, not just handing out penalties.
The program matters for anyone who regularly drives Oklahoma’s highways, from commuters heading down I-44 to military families driving through Fort Sill and travelers passing the Wichita Mountains. Workers in those zones are someone’s parent, neighbor, or friend, and they deserve to get home at the end of the day. For drivers, the choice is simple: pay the ticket or learn from it.
Would you take the course to dismiss a work-zone citation, or do you think the fine should stand? Let us know in the comments.
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Local Lawton
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