Winter can make driving more challenging anyway in our region, but West Virginia Department of Transportation officials suggest drivers are also having a hard time navigating worksites and the presence of non-civilian vehicles.

Between Dec. 12 and 19, the department reported five separate accidents in which civilian motorists were at fault when they hit DOT vehicles.

“If you’ve been out in the last couple of weeks you’ve seen the traffic, you’ve seen the congestion. If you couple that with any kind of impaired driving, reckless driving, speeding, or distracted driving, it makes it super dangerous to be out on the roadways this time of year,” Sgt. Jamie Wilhite of the Beckley Police Department told WVNS.

Perhaps we all should resolve to do better in our vehicles this year. Distracted driving can be just as deadly as driving under the influence; and refusal to obey traffic laws or observe the rules driving through work zones or near vehicles with flashing lights on the side of the road can have devastating consequences.

“Distracted driving is completely and totally preventable. Get off your phone. Slow down. Pay attention,” said state Transportation Secretary Stephen Rumbaugh.

It doesn’t get simpler than that — particularly when paths cross with those who are on the roads because it is their job and they are serving the rest of us.

If you are behind the wheel of a vehicle, you owe it to yourself and everyone else to be sober and focused, follow the rules and keep a little common sense and courtesy in the mix. If that’s too difficult, it may be better to stay home.