Avoiding Accidents In Construction Zones
Insurance Neighbor • November 19, 2018
How Do Construction Zone Accidents Happen?
Stopping Distances in Construction Zones
- 300 feet on a dry roadway
- 400 feet on a wet roadway
- 1,250 feet on icy pavement
How to Reduce the Risk of a Traffic Crash in a Construction Zone
- Be patient--passing through a construction zone will take significantly more time than standard driving.
- Keep your headlights on.
- Stay alert and don't drive distracted. Give your full attention to the roadway and to driving your vehicle. Avoid changing the radio, operating a GPS, texting, making phone calls, eating, or any other activity that could take your attention off the road.
- Pay attention to the area around you. Watch the brake lights on the vehicle ahead, watch the movement of traffic to your sides, and keep an eye out for any posted signs.
- Don't tailgate. Maintain a safe distance between your vehicle and the vehicle ahead of you in case they must unexpectedly hit their brakes.
- Obey the posted speed limit. Driving speeds are significantly reduced in construction zones for a reason. Traffic patterns may change, and workers may be present only feet away from your vehicle. Be prepared to slow down even further if necessary, and keep in mind that fines may be doubled for moving violations in construction zones.
- Merge into the proper lane. Traffic patterns can change daily in construction zones, so try to merge into the designated lane early on instead of waiting until the last second.
- Change lanes safely. Only change lanes when indicated by the pavement markings and when permitted by traffic flow.
- Follow all instructions from flaggers. They are there to keep both traffic and construction moving as smoothly as possible.
- Expect the unexpected. When you are traveling through a construction zone, work vehicles and equipment may suddenly enter your lane without warning. Additionally, other drivers may slow down, stop, or change lanes unexpectedly, so keep an extra sharp eye out for traffic changes.
Be Prepared in Case of an Accident
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