This week is "Work Zone Awareness" week across the state and INDOT wants drivers to take it seriously.

As spring construction gets underway transportation officials want to keep workers and your family safe.

Last year eight people were killed and more than 500 injured during accidents in work zones.

"We had a flagger killed. Doing everything he should have been doing last year and yet a car struck him and killed him," said Jim Scheffer, INDOT operations manager. "Those kinds of things can be avoided if people slow down."

The penalties for speeding in work zones are stiff. Drivers could face a $1,000 in fines or up to eight years in jail for hitting a construction worker.