Mountain State residents have had just about enough of the rough road conditions lately. Cold, snow, overnight freezes and other hazardous conditions are bad enough; but we are also dealing with a perpetual cycle of potholes and road work, right?

Imagine being one of the individuals whose job is go out in those nasty road conditions and try to conduct the road work or fill the potholes. It’s a vital but thankless and dangerous job. Last weekend a West Virginia Division of Highways road worker was struck by a truck while trying to make emergency repairs to a pothole on West Virginia 62 in Mason County.

That worker and another WVDOH crew member were wearing reflective clothing and had the lights on their truck flashing. But the truck that approached their work site did not appear even to slow down.

Now the injured worker is recovering from surgery to repair his femur, broken arm and shoulder.

“It’s upsetting that anyone gets hurt in the highway system at all, let alone one of our transportation workers,” said Transportation Secretary Stephen Todd Rumbaugh, P.E. “Safety is going to be a priority with this administration.”

It must be a priority for us in our own vehicles, too.

It can’t be said enough: Slow down, pay attention, obey road signs and other warning markers, and use common sense.

If you don’t know how to drive on snow and ice, don’t drive on snow and ice. If you are incapable of resisting the urge to check your texts, emails or the latest social media video, turn off your notifications (or your phone entirely, if necessary) while you’re driving.

When you are behind the wheel, your own life, the lives of those in your vehicle, and the lives anyone — highway worker or fellow driver — with whom you cross paths are in YOUR hands.

That means your phone shouldn’t be. And it means it is up to you to be smart, safe and responsible on the road.