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Entry bubble Slow Down in that Work Zone!

By: Stephanie | April 06, 2009 | Category: Health

warning sign that says road work ahead In the past when I'd come upon a work zone and have to slow down, I'd get as irked as any other driver. Like everyone else, I'm often in a hurry.

But after researching for this post last week, something changed in me. I learned some statistics that made me want to slow down in a work zone.

The Federal Highway Administration reports that every year, more than 40,000 people are seriously injured in work zone-related crashes, and more than 800 people are killed. Did you know that most of those injured or killed are drivers and passengers?

This is the 10th annual National Work Zone Awareness Week, which kicks off at the start of the construction season to attract national attention to drive carefully through highway construction and repair sites.

Most deaths and injuries in work zones are caused by rear-end collisions. Many collisions occur before the construction work zone begins, where lanes close and cars merge. Drivers cutting in at the last minute cause sudden stops, and inattentive drivers going too fast aren’t ready for traffic to slow or stop.

And most work zone accidents don't occur at night during a storm—they mostly occur in daylight, on a clear or cloudy weekday.

Some basic "Safety Tips to Live By":

  • Pay Close Attention. Signs and work zone flaggers save lives.
  • Don't Tailgate.
  • Keep Up with the Traffic Flow.
  • Minimize Distractions. Avoid changing radio stations and using a mobile phone while driving in a work zone.
  • Be Patient. Remember that work zone crews are improving your future ride.

To help you be patient, check out a database where you can search for road construction projects in the U.S. and Canada. You'll finally know what that work zone you pass everyday is for, and when it's scheduled to be completed.

And for some fun: help name the National Work Zone Safety Information Clearinghouse mascot (voting closes at 10 AM EDT today).

Do you have any work zone stories to share?

| Post a Comment | View Comments [4] | envelope E-mail This Entry | Tags: car   collision   construction   fhwa   highway   safety   stephanie   work_zone_awareness_week  

Comments (4):

blue comment bubble Posted by David James on April 07, 2009 at 01:21 AM EDT

For a small state, this is an extremely high number of deaths. The sad fact is that these 88 deaths and the thousands of crashes were totally preventable. They were the result of motorists who were speeding through work zones and/or driving under the influence of alcohol. There were thousands of injuries reported in work zone crashes, and the number of crashes is continuing to increase. Changing driver behavior in highway work zones can also help to improve safety throughout the highway system.
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blue comment bubble Posted by my blog on April 08, 2009 at 02:45 AM EDT

Yep!
Slow down everebody!


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blue comment bubble Posted by Himanshu on May 08, 2009 at 06:34 AM EDT

The Florida Highway Patrol has recognized that work zone safety is a growing roadway safety concern for the motoring public and the construction crews who work daily on the various roadway projects improving Florida’s transportation network. In 2006, 1,010 work zone fatalities occurred across the nation. During the same time period in Florida, 119 people were killed in work zone traffic crashes.

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blue comment bubble Posted by discount auto parts on July 22, 2009 at 03:23 PM EDT

The message is so clear and yet, some people are still ignoring it. This is the weird part!

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