Driving around construction work zones can be frustrating, as it can add a substantial amount of time to your trip. However, you must practice safe driving habits in work zones, for your safety and that of the workers and other drivers there. Here are a few tips you should keep in mind the next time you’re driving around construction work.
1. Watch for Workers
Driving around construction areas is perhaps the most dangerous for construction workers. The workers are relying on every driver to drive safely past their worksite. You’re required by law to slow down around any work zone, whether workers are there or not. But if workers are there, you should take even more precautions to ensure they can safely continue to fix your roads.
2. Be Patient
No one is in a construction zone to have a good time. Everyone there either wants to drive away from the construction zone as soon as possible or is working in the zone. Impatient drivers can cause traffic around construction zones to slow down even more and they can even make the area dangerous for other drivers and workers. Wait your turn and make your driving decisions calmly.
Not everyone follows this rule. Even if you are patiently waiting your turn, the driver behind you may not. Do not react to other drivers’ rude and impatient actions. It will only add to the problem.
3. Read the Signs
Try not to simply follow the person in front of you. That person might be making a mistake you’re about to repeat. Instead, read the signs in a construction area so that you can properly follow instructions and maintain a safe environment for everyone on the road. If you aren’t well-versed in construction zone signs, you should take a minute to study them so you know what to do the next time you enter a work zone. Ignoring these signs can get you a ticket or, in the worst-case scenario, add to the list of deaths that occur in construction zones every year.
4. Avoid Distractions
To be fair, you should always be actively avoiding distractions when you’re driving. But the added obstacles and difficulty of driving through a construction zone requires you to eliminate distractions even more. Don’t use your phone if your vehicle is moving. Don’t reach for anything in your cabin when your vehicle is moving. Try to keep your eyes and focus on the road ahead.
5. Plan Ahead
If you know you have to get somewhere within a certain amount of time, plan your trip ahead of time. Before you start driving, look up traffic conditions on the roads you’re taking. If you can’t spare the time to slow down for a construction zone, plan an alternate route or leave earlier. If you follow these tips and maintain an active sense of awareness while you’re driving through construction areas, you’re doing your part to create a safe environment for everyone involved. Though you should always stay alert and keep your eyes on the road, doing these things is doubly important when you’re driving around a construction zone.
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