You’re on the road, and running late. You think you might be able to make it, though, as long as you can make decent time. Then it happens – you enter a construction zone. The speed limit falls, traffic backs up, and you’re grinding your teeth in frustration. We get it: there’s nothing quite like roadwork to really put a cap on a bad day, or to turn a good day into something less than enjoyable. However, you can’t let that frustration cause you to drive recklessly. Road construction safety is a vital consideration no matter where you’re driving, what type of road you’re on (highway, surface street or interstate), or how late you’re going to be for that all-important appointment.
Why Does Safety Matter in Construction Zones?
Before we touch on the actual tips you’ll need to know, it’s important to understand why road construction safety matters in the first place. According to the US Department of Transportation, there were 642 work zone crashes that resulted in at least one fatality in 2015 (the most recent year for which statistics are available). There were 25,485 accidents nationwide that involved at least one injury, though.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics and the CDC point out that between 2003 and 2015, there were almost 1,600 road worker deaths. Of course, work construction zone safety is not just important for preventing needless deaths – it also helps prevent property damage. In 2015, the Federal Highway Administration noted there were 70,499 accidents that resulted in property damage with no injuries reported.
To put all that a bit more concisely, 2015 saw a work zone crash every 5.4 minutes. 70 crashes involving at least one injury occurred every single day. 12 people lost their lives every week of 2015 in construction zone crashes.
The single most important takeaway here? Practicing road construction safety could have prevented almost all of those accidents and deaths. So, what tips should you know? What safety precautions should you follow? Let’s dig into the topic a bit more.
Slow Down
Most accidents that occur within construction zones involve at least one party driving too fast for the conditions. Even if you feel confident in your skills, slow it down. Cautious driving is a good thing, particularly in congested areas like construction zones. Not only will this help you avoid accidents with other drivers, but it will also ensure that you have enough time to react to situations involving construction zone workers and their equipment.
Pay Attention to Speed Limit Changes
The posted speed limit will drop on entering a construction zone -- most of us are familiar with that. However, understand that the speed limit may change several times within the work zone. This is particularly true for large work areas that have smaller areas of more intense activity. For instance, the speed limit might be 55 mph for most of the construction zone, but drop to 35 mph for areas where workers are concentrated. Pay attention to the posted speed limit, and realize that this is the maximum limit to your speed, not an indication of the speed that you’re required to drive. You can (and should) consider driving under the speed limit.
Leave More Space
Let’s be honest here – most of us leave nowhere near enough space between our vehicle and the vehicle in front of us even in normal driving conditions. However, it’s vital that you leave more space than usual between vehicles when driving in road construction zones. The chance that the person ahead of you will have to slam on his or her brakes is quite a bit higher in a construction zone, so you need to plan for this. Leave at least one car length between your vehicles for every 10 miles per hour of travel. So, if you’re traveling at 45 mph, you should be able to fit four and a half of your vehicle between your front bumper and the rear bumper of the car ahead of you. If you don’t have that much space, slow down until you do.
Be Vigilant
Distracted driving is reaching epidemic proportions. Between eating and drinking behind the wheel, tuning the radio or changing the CD, and texting or talking on the phone, it’s amazing that we don’t have more fatalities on the road every day. Those distractions become even more dangerous when you enter a congested road construction zone. You need to be vigilant for the entire time you’re in the work zone. Don’t change CDs. Don’t change radio stations. Don’t eat or drink. Don’t use your cellphone. If you’re one of those people that talks with their hands, you might consider putting a halt to any conversations until you can safely get through the work area. Pay attention to the people driving ahead of and behind you, but also to what’s going on with the construction workers around you.
Plan Ahead
One of the most important road construction safety tips is this: plan ahead. With the number of information sources at your disposal today, there is simply no reason to be surprised by road construction along your current route. If the construction is occurring on the route you take for your daily commute, there is even less excuse for not being prepared. Use this information to ensure you’re able to plan ahead. Build in an extra 15 or 20 minutes so that you can arrive at your destination on time, without having to speed and put road construction workers, other drivers, and yourself in harm’s way. Building in extra time allows you to drive more slowly, remain calm behind the wheel, and reduces the chance that you’ll be driving distracted because you're worrying about being late for work or an appointment.
Gas Up
A significant number of accidents are caused because by drivers running low on or even out of gas while stuck in road construction related traffic. Again, use the information sources at your disposal, including the Internet, state DOT phone numbers, and the like, to plan ahead. Gas up before you enter a construction zone. Part of road construction safety is to expect the unexpected, and that includes unanticipated delays.
Take 10
A significant number of accidents occur not inside the road construction zone, but in the last few feet of road leading up to a lane closure. This is because many drivers attempt to stay in the closed lane all the way to the cordon, and then try to force themselves into the other lane at the last second. Don't do this. Follow the take 10 rule here: put on your turn signal at least three seconds before you need to get over, and then allow at least seven seconds to merge into the other lane. This will help ensure a smooth move, and limits the potential for accidents or injury to you, other drivers, or road construction workers.
Drive Defensively, Not Offensively
Too many people think it’s acceptable to drive offensively, using aggressive tactics to force their way around other drivers while disregarding the safety of others. You should actually drive defensively, particularly in road construction zones. This ties into many of the tips we’ve already covered, including not following too closely, not speeding, paying attention to what’s going on around you, not driving distracted, and the like. Be on the defense, and you’ll be much safer (and the road construction crews will be, too).
Conclusion
Ultimately, road construction safety is about protecting you and your family as much as it is about protecting road construction crews and other drivers. Take your time. Plan effectively. Don't be distracted. You’re taking more than just your own life into your hands when you drive through these areas. Be careful.
