When an accident occurs within the work zone, it causes traffic to slow down or to become stopped altogether, and tempers soar. To improve safety for the construction workers within the work zones, many states have passed legislation to allow automatic speed monitoring devices. Speeding fines vary from state-to-state with some states imposing maximum fines of up to $1,000 for speeding, and maximum jail time of up to 8 years for reckless driving, in the hopes that motorists will heed the posted signs and slow down.
It is everyone’s responsibility to slow down and drive safely in construction work zones.
Minimize your risk of becoming involved in a crash by following the safety tips below:
Slow down
---exceeding the posted limit is one of the major causes of work zone crashes.
Remain alert
and avoid distractions such as using cell phones, radios, etc.
Be observant
of posted signs such as speed limits and lane usage restrictions.
Obey road crew flaggers
—Did you know you can be cited for disobeying their directions? Well, you can!
Drive safely -
do not tailgate, keep your distance but keep up with the flow of traffic & merge accordingly. Rear end collisions are the most common cause of highway work zone crashes.
Expect the unexpected -
as there may be new lane reconfigurations, construction vehicles merging on and off the roadway and workers standing/working nearby.
Be patient and stay calm
. Look on the bright side. When the project is completed you will have an improved road to travel!
Every
8.7
hours there is one work zone fatality (almost 3 per day)
Every
9
minutes there is a work zone injury (160 per day)
Don’t become a statistic. Slow down & drive safely during summer construction.
For more information on reducing risk or any of our other services, please contact Jeff Harrison at jeff.harrison@cbservices.org or 800.807.0300 ext 2543