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Key Safety Tips for Driving Through Construction Zones

Posted in Blog, News  
Monday, May 20, 2019

While construction is generally good and means that a road is being built or repaired, it does pose its own unique driving related challenges. While navigating through construction requires effort from all drivers and workers, the ante is upped further when you’re driving a large semi truck. According to the Federal Highway Administration (FHA), 47% of fatal work zone crashes involve large trucks. That’s why it’s important to know and obey the rules of the road during construction season.

 

Mind the Gap

Make sure to leave a nice gap between your truck and the vehicle ahead of you, and be mindful of changes in traffic speeds and patterns up ahead so you aren’t forced to slow down or stop unexpectedly.

 

Read the Signs

It’s easy to just glance at or ignore construction signs altogether, but a wise driver remains attentive. Signs aren’t there for show but help you understand what to expect up ahead, if there are potential changes in traffic, and more.

 

Obey Reduced Speed Limits

Stopping your truck is always easier when you’re at or below the posted speed limit for a construction zone. Plus, construction zones notoriously cause traffic backups, meaning you should be and will likely be slowing down soon anyways.

 

Watch Out for Workers

You should be driving defensively anyways, and especially so when driving through a construction zone full of workers and heavy machinery near or on the road.

 

Spread the Word

Since you’re sitting higher up in a cab and able to see further than those in smaller vehicles, turn on your flashers when necessary to signal slowing or stopped traffic ahead. Helping other drivers know when to start slowing down helps prevent surprises and the need to slam the brakes suddenly.

 

The bottom line is that NTB Trucking encourages all drivers, workers, and anyone else on the road to drive safely, defensively, and attentively during construction season. And if you’d like to work for a company that cares about its drivers, then apply now for more.