Highway Construction Zones Present Risks to Drivers and Workers

Highway, interstate, and rural road construction will begin increasing as summer approaches. The risks motorists and construction workers face will also increase... dramatically. The car accidents and wrongful deaths occurring in construction zones can be largely decreased by giving more attention to Highway work zone safety tips.

Keller & Keller has examined 4 common risks associated with highway construction:

1. Speeding in a construction zone
Not obeying posted speed limits in a construction zone, is the most common factor in work zone car accidents and wrongful deaths. The posted speeds in construction zones serve a very specific purpose. Traffic in a construction zone is often stop and go, and there are many times that roadway construction may leave workers vulnerable to passing cars. Obeying the construction zone speed limits is for your safety, and the safety of the construction workers.

Failing to obey a construction zone speed limit will often have tragic consequences, and it can also be costly. Many states fine motorists twice the amount of a normal traffic infraction if they are caught speeding in a construction zone. Local and state police will offer no leniency if they catch you speeding in a highway or interstate construction zone, and for good reason.

ALWAYS obey the posted highway construction zone speed limits.

2. Disobeying temporary Construction Signs, Traffic Directions, or Caution Signals
An impatient or distracted driver that disregards posted construction signs, traffic directors, or signal is yet another danger to themselves and the roadway construction worker. Many of the posted construction signs serve as warnings or directions to drivers advising of upcoming road conditions, or redirects. These temporary signs should be treated with the same respect as any other highway law or mandate. Their purpose is to protect everyone.

ALWAYS obey construction signs, traffic directions, and caution signals.

3. A driver's inattentiveness to roadway workers and construction machinery
A driver's lack of awareness is a great risk to the roadway construction worker. Road construction will often be full of very large, slow moving construction vehicles and machinery that will be working on the edges of the roadway and sometimes moving into your pathway. Many of these vehicles will have bad blind-spots, making it very difficult for them to see you, and they are not easily able to stop or maneuver if they do detect an emergency situation. Also, many construction workers are working on the shoulders of these roadways or in close vicinity to passing traffic, making them extremely vulnerable to serious injury or death. Drivers that are found to be at fault for construction site accidents can face stiff penalties and possible time in prison.

ALWAYS be aware of the construction worker and construction machinery

4. Merging Issues
Late lane merging, or high-speed lane merging is another common factor in highway construction zone accidents. The width of lanes, and the number of lanes available to vehicles are often reduced from their normal size. When a driver waits to merge until the last moment, or at a high rate of speed, side impact collisions or deadly rear-end collisions can result. Cars and trucks who have already merged, or are stopped, are vulnerable to a vehicle that is trying to merge at high speeds, as there is often not enough stopping space available to the merging vehicle.

ALWAYS merge at appropriate speeds

Keller & Keller Quick Fact* Many collisions and car accidents in highway work areas occur near the start of a construction zone where the traffic pattern is first disrupted. Be very aware of your surroundings when approaching the start to a construction zone.

As we discussed above, drivers exceeding the speed limit, merging dangerously, not paying attention to their surroundings, or not giving adequate attention to workers, are unacceptable. No matter the reason, construction zones require your heightened awareness to ensure the safety of both the construction workers and the other drivers on the road.

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