Construction Zone Safety

If you've been behind the wheel recently, there's a good chance you've driven through a construction zone. As you sit in the comfort of your own vehicle, America's road workers are out there, pounding the pavement -- literally -- to improve our roads and freeways.

State governments have always recognized the important role that road workers play in keeping our roads safe and more convenient to use. But with cars traveling at speeds in excess of 65 miles per hour --often not adhering to road safety rules and laws taught in defensive driving programs - a hardhat isn't enough protection for a road worker standing within inches of the passing vehicles.

Today, many state governments have enacted laws to help keep road workers safe. These laws include the doubling of fines for speeders.

In this article, we offer some valuable tips to help keep our road workers safe and to keep you from getting a ticket and having to take an in-class or online defensive driving course.

So pay attention. There's a lot at stake.

• Do not exceed the posted speed limit. Doing so could result in a ticket and a trip to an in-class or online defensive driving course.
• Do not ignore the signs indicating dropping speed limits as you enter a construction zone. Once again, not adhering to the changing speed limit could result in a ticket, which in turn could force you take a defensive driving course.
• Be aware that fines may be doubled in a construction zone when workers are present. Not sure if workers are present? Obey the posted speed limit and you'll have a better shot at avoiding a trip to a defensive driving course.
• Do not pass other vehicles while driving in a work zone. Lanes may be narrowed, there may be too many bumps, and lanes could suddenly end without warning. Not adhering to the "Do Not Pass" signs is unsafe and could cause you to lose control of your vehicle. Get in an accident and you could be charged with unsafe driving and end up in a defensive driving program. Or, you could end up seriously injuring or killing a road worker.
• Obey any and all traffic signs, including those manually erected by a road worker. Failing to adhere to a traffic sign could send you swerving out of control and into a defensive driving program.
• Do not remove or displace any construction barrier, barrel, sign or other device used to keep drivers safe just because it's inconvenient for you. These devices are there for a reason. Moving them could result in a ticket and may force you to complete an in-class or online defensive driving course to correct your poor judgment.

Pay attention to what's out on the road and adhere to our tips. Doing so could mean the difference between passing safely through a construction zone and making a pit stop at an online defensive driving course to correct your traffic violation and dismiss your ticket.