Even this late in the year, Arizona drivers still regularly encounter construction zones on highways and city streets. With closed lanes, heavy machinery and traffic switches traveling through these work zones can quickly become a dangerous experience. Fortunately, drivers can follow safety tips to avoid devastating collisions in highway construction areas.
Motor vehicle collisions can result in catastrophic injuries such as broken bones, head trauma, spinal cord damage and paralysis. Depending on the severity of the crash, the collision could prove fatal to vehicle occupants. When traveling through a work zone, drivers should:
- Avoid distractions: Drivers of all ages and experience levels are tempted to multitask while behind the wheel. From texting and making a phone call to personal grooming and eating a meal, distracted drivers often remove their attention from the road to pass the time. By reducing distractions, drivers have a better chance of avoiding a serious collision.
- Alter your driving technique: When driving through a construction zone, it is wise to reduce speeds and increase follow distance. By making these changes, drivers can better react to dangerous situations and the changing environment.
- Heed warning signs: Workers in a construction zone are careful to post numerous warning signs, powered signals and stationary flaggers. These signs alert drivers of various hazards including changing speed limits, upcoming traffic switches, lane closures and construction vehicles. Drivers must follow these warnings and adjust their habits as soon as possible.
Depending on the size and speed of the vehicles involved, a crash in a work zone can lead to devastating property damage and catastrophic injuries. By altering their driving habits and paying careful attention to the road, drivers can stay safe while traveling through a road construction zone.