Highway work zones can be annoying, but they are also a reason for drivers to exercise caution and remain aware.
Many states impose serious penalties for aggressive and reckless driving through work zones, which is one of the most dangerous jobs for highway workers and hazardous to drivers as well. About 40,000 crashes a year happen in work zones, and in four out of five cases where an accident results in a fatality, it is the driver who is killed.
Here is how to keep yourself and the workers safe:
* Keep a safe distance from the car in front of you. The most common accident in a work zone is a rear end collision.
* Stay alert for changing circumstances. Don't text or talk on the phone when driving through a work zone.
* Respect posted speed limits. Going 45 miles per hour through a five mile work zone, instead of 55 miles per hour, adds only 1.2 minutes to your trip.
* Obey the flaggers. They are not loafing, they are working in a dangerous situation.
* Find alternate routes that aren't work zones.
Most crashes in work zones involve drivers who follow too closely, change lanes unsafely, fail to yield, or drive too fast.