The Missouri Department of Transportation is reminding you to use caution in work zones.

Work zones can mean delays or inconveniences to drivers, it's also a risky place to work for drivers who don't abide by the rules.

Robert Deters has been working on maintenance crews for the Missouri Department of Transportation 15 years. And as you can imagine, he's had some close calls with passing traffic. It seems the problem is getting worse.

Deters said, "Highway 61 is the worst route as far as traffic, since it became four lane, the traffic has increased tremendously in last two years and the speed has increased with the traffic. And that's our biggest problem in our work zones is the high speeds where they should be slowing down they're not."

They zip through at 65 miles per hour and a lot of times we're working within two feet of these people driving through there and you feel the wind coming off the vehicles, so its a safety hazard for us and them."

Crew members on jobs like this do their best to watch out for co-workers, but that can be a challenge in this risky work environment where the surroundings change every second.

Deters says the most important thing a driver can do to protect workers is to slow down, and put down the cell phone. And have patience...

Deters said, "That's our main goal is to get you through the work zones safely and go home safely."

So when you drive through a work zone, remember you're passing through the outdoor office of workers like Robert, who only wants to get home to his wife and kids after a hard days work.

Log onto MODOT's website www.modot.org/northeast to find a traveler information site...where you can spot all construction sites going on in the state to help make your travel plans.

Meanwhile work zones mean lower speed limits to enforce for the Missouri Highway Patrol.

Troopers are working special enforcement details all over the area to make sure motorists are abiding by the posted speed limits of 45 miles per hour...depending on the work zone.

By the way, tickets for speeding or passing in these zones come with a 250 dollar fine.

Hitting a worker would mean the loss of your license for a year and a ten thousand dollar fine.