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Construction Zone Safety Tips

Posted in Blog  
Monday, July 13, 2015

For your safety and the safety of others, please follow these safety tips:  

  • Expect the unexpected in any work zone, along any road, major or minor. Normal speed limits may be reduced; traffic lanes changed and people and vehicles may be working on or near the road.  
  • Slow down! Be alert! Heed the signs! Diamond shaped orange warning signs are generally posted in advance of road construction projects.  
  • Obey the flagger’s directions. In addition to other warning signs, a “Flagger Ahead” warning sign may be posted in the work zone. When you see this sign, stay alert and be prepared to obey. In a work zone, a flagger has the same authority as a regulatory sign, so you can be cited for disobeying their directions.  
  • Stay Calm. Work zones are a fact of life and are more prevalent than ever before. Maintaining calmness will make the time traveling through the work zone seem shorter and less frustrating.
  • Merge as soon as possible. You may see flashing arrow panels of “Lane Closed Ahead” signs. Don’t wait until your lane is closed to try to merge. If everyone cooperates, traffic moves more efficiently. Drivers can help maintain traffic flow and posted speeds by moving to the appropriate lane at first notice of an approaching work zone. Lane blocking is illegal, and violators will be cited for it.  
  • Slow down when the signs say to. A vehicle traveling at 60mph travels 88 feet per second. If you are going 60mph and you pass a sign that says “Road Work 1500 Feet,” you will be in that work zone in 17 seconds. Remember to always watch for slowed or stopped traffic that may be backed up before these areas.  
  • Leave extra following distance between you and the vehicle in front of you. The most common crash in a highway work zone is the rear-end collision. The amount of space required to provide adequate stopping time will increase the faster you are driving. Remember, your CDL manual says one second is required for every 10 feet of your vehicle length.  
  • Keep a safe distance between your vehicle and traffic barriers, construction equipment, vehicles and workers. Doing our job safely also keeps other drivers and workers around us safe.
  • Observe the posted signs until you see the one that says you have left the work zone. Some work zones—like painting, road patching and mowing—are mobile, moving down the road as the work is finished. Just because you don’t see the workers immediately after you see the warning signs does not mean they are not out there.  
  • Expect delays, plan ahead, and try an alternate route. Regardless of the length of your trip, plan on some sort of road construction along your route. Plan for the delays and leave early to reach your destination on time. Highway agencies use many different ways to inform motorists about the location and duration of major work zones. Often, the agencies will suggest a detour to help you avoid the work zone entirely.  
  • Always watch the traffic conditions one mile down the road, or as far as you can, so you can be better prepared for slowed or stopped traffic you are approaching. It is important for you and all the other road users to safely return home to your family and friends.

Please share the road safely and professionally. You are the difference.