Work Zone Safety Week

While April 7-11 is officially Work Zone Safety Week, for all practical purposes the orange barrels appearing on Hwy. 16 a month or so ago marked the beginning of our road construction season. With over 40,000 people injured in vehicle crashes in work zones each year resulting in over a 1,000 deaths, it behooves every driver to be aware not only of the lane changes and construction workers directing traffic, but the drivers around them.

Take for example a recent fender bender in the construction zone on Hwy. 16. The quick merge of the two east bound lanes all too often results in a battle of the wills, resulting in sudden braking and quick maneuvering. The driver in the left lane had pushed it far enough that oncoming traffic had to swerve to avoid a collision. Even assuming the driver in the right lane was totally in the right, a little courtesy could have prevented the two vehicles from ìswapping paintî as they say in NASCAR. In the frustration of the moment they also seem to have forgotten the State Law that requires you to move your vehicles from the traffic lane unless there are injuries. This resulted in all east bound traffic being stopped until the State Patrol arrived and was able to get close enough to be heard on their speakers directing the drivers to ìMove your vehicles, NOWî.

Asphalt overlays and concrete work will begin soon in residential neighborhoods where you can turn a corner and suddenly find yourself in the middle of a construction zone. April is the countyís busiest month for pothole repair, and as the patch trucks move from street to street, drivers are liable to encounter them with no advance warning.

The two main causes cited for accidents in the 500 or so work zones across the state during the summer months are speed and inattentive driving. Donít tailgate, change lanes, or use mobile phones. Do pay attention to warning signs, merging traffic and other drivers. When you pass the ìRoad Work 1500 Feetî sign at 45 mph, you will be there in less than 26 seconds. It takes 52 seconds longer to go through a 2 mile long work zone at 45 mph than it does at 65. If you think the slower speeds in the construction zone messes up your schedule, try waiting for the police and filling out the accident reports like our two friends on Hwy. 16 did recently.

CONTACT THE WRITER • HISEY4CD4@MSN.COM

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