Sometimes it seems like road construction is ongoing. If you encounter road construction on your daily commute, it can not only be frustrating for you as a driver but every time you drive in a construction zone, you’re driving in a hazardous condition that not only places you and other drivers at risk but road workers as well.
Construction zones must have a sign up that says, “Fines double when workers present,” and it must indicate where the construction zone starts and stops. Even though construction zones typically have plenty of signage that warns motorists to slow down and proceed with caution, many drivers ignore these warnings and drive through a construction zone at excessive speeds.
Leading Causes of Construction Zone Crashes
According to the Texas Department of Insurance, Division of Workers’ Compensation, the two leading causes of construction zone crashes are speeding and driver inattention. The Federal Highway Administration reports that the most common type of accident in work zones is rear-end crashes. As far as fatal crashes in construction zones, most of those occur in construction zones on roads with speed limits above 50 mph. Those tend to occur most frequently in the summer and fall and involve adults who are of working age.
When you’re driving through a construction zone, follow these safety tips:
- Take an alternative route if you can
- Be patient and slow down for road workers
- Slow down in a construction zone – obey the speed limit posted
- Watch for the orange and black signs that provide warnings
- Do not tailgate other drivers
- Avoid making any abrupt driving maneuvers
- Understand that traffic patterns can change frequently in a construction zone
- To make your vehicle more visible, turn on your headlights
- As the saying goes, “Expect the unexpected”
- Well before a lane closes, merge into the proper lane
Were you in a crash in a construction zone? To explore your possible avenues of compensation, we invite you to contact The Zendeh Del Law Firm, PLLC for a consultation.