Seventy-five white crosses rest on the front lawn of PennDOT's Mercer County office, each bearing the name of a highway worker killed on the job since 1970.

Among the crosses are the engraved names of D.P. Miller, an equipment operator in Mercer County who was killed in 1997, and C. Burin, a highway maintenance worker in Erie County who was killed in 1984.

"It's kind of depressing," said Scott Young, Mercer County manager who worked with Burin.

Four other workers from northwest Pennsylvania are also honored. The crosses are located at North and Maple streets in Mercer and memorialize the fallen PennDOT workers as part of Work Zone Safety Awareness Week, which runs from April 8 to 15.

"When you work side by side with people, they become like your family. There are people who aren't aware of their surroundings and these are the people that suffer," Young said.

The traveling memorial was created by a PennDOT maintenance crew in Bradford County and will be on display in Mercer until Friday. It will then move to Erie County.

According to officials, 23 people were killed last year in work zones on Pennsylvania highways. Because of that, PennDOT safety experts have introduced new types of equipment and portable signs that read: "My Mommy (or Daddy) Works Here" to encourage motorists to drive safely.

The safety effort is in conjunction with "Operation Yellow Jacket," which will sting motorists who disobey speed limits, drive recklessly or harass workers. That will help create safer work zones for employees, officials said.

State and local police are also looking to increase the number of state troopers and policemen posted at work zones who will issue tickets.

"We're going to attempt a vigorous enforcement of existing traffic laws where fines are doubled," said state police Lt. Francis Grolemund, who is in charge of the Mercer station. "We're doing this for public safety and traffic safety. The emphasis is on safety for workers."

PennDOT workers will be trained to capture information on reckless and negligent drivers in work zones, officials said. The information will be reported to state police and citations issued.

Motorists should take responsibility for their safety and the safety of others in work zones, officials said.

The National Highway Safety Administration offers the following "Safety Tips" for safe driving in a work zone:

• Recognize the work zone. Watch for signals and flagmen.

• Slow down immediately and expect to stop completely. Do not anticipate being allowed to proceed without stopping.

• Stay alert. Workers and equipment can move quickly. Dedicate full attention to the road.

• Pay close attention to flagmen and traffic-control devices.

• Turn on headlights. All vehicles are easier to see if headlights are on, especially at dawn or dusk.

• Maintain a lane. Stay in the lane assigned by the flag-man or signs.

• Minimize distractions. Avoid talking on cellular phones or changing the radio station.

• Expect the unexpected. Beware of rapidly changing circumstances in the work zone.