NEW MEXICO (KRQE) – The New Mexico Department of Transportation (NMDOT) on Friday revealed its newest mascot: “Zippy,” the roadrunner.
Zippy is dedicated to promoting work zone safety across New Mexico. The roadrunner educator will be sharing safety messages for the next several months on NMDOT social media and other communication channels.
As part of the launch of the Zippy campaign, NMDOT staff from District 1, District 3, District 4, and District 6 created roadrunners out of orange construction zone barrel. The roadrunners are placed in front of the NMDOT district buildings as an added tool to help raise awareness about work zone safety across the state.
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Zippy’s introduction coincides with the start of National Work Zone Awareness Week (NWZAW) on April 15. “Work zone safety is a priority for NMDOT and the launch of our own safety mascot, Zippy, is just one of a variety of tools we’re using to raise awareness about the importance of safe driving practices in work zones,” said Transportation Secretary Ricky Serna in a news release.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s Fatality Analysis Reporting System (NHTSA FARS) data, 891 people died in work zones in 2022, including 742 drivers and their passengers. Also in 2022, 94 highway worker occupational fatalities occurred in road construction sites, according to Bureau of Labor Statistics data.
