Wednesday, June 17, 2015

Drive Safe in Work Zones This Summer



Summer road trips are a great time to get away from the hustle and bustle of life and enjoy time with friends and family. Of course, every road trip can get bogged down by the inevitable: Summer construction. It’s so common that in many places, there’s an old joke: “My city only has two seasons, winter and construction!”

Not only does construction slow you down, it can also be extremely costly. In many places, traffic violations in a construction area come with a heftier fine. And with so many people and machines so close to the roadway, it’s extra-important to drive safely. Here are a few tips to help you stay safe around construction this summer from Drivers-Test.org:

“1 Look for the orange diamonds. Several of these signs will be placed along side the roadway well before the actual construction zone to warn drivers. As soon as you see a “work zone ahead” sign, reduce your speed and be on the lookout for workers, machinery, and obstacles.

2 Double fines are put in place in most work zones as an incentive for drivers to reduce their speed and follow all traffic regulations. If you are issued a traffic citation within a work zone that has a double fine warning posted, the cost of your ticket will be multiplied by two. Ouch!

3 On many U.S. interstate highways, the speed limit in construction zones while workers are not present is 55 miles per hour. It may be considerably lower during times when people are on and around the road.

4 Orange cones and barrels are used to direct the flow of traffic in work zones. Do not steer into or run over these objects. You will be responsible for any damage to your vehicle if you make contact with construction cones or barrels.

5 Flaggers are often used to stop and direct traffic in work zones. Their instructions supersede any posted or implied traffic signals. Their presence will be announced by orange construction signs that say “flagger ahead.” Keep an eye out for flaggers in all construction zones and keep your vehicle as far away from their bodies as possible.”

Get more tips for summer construction safety at Drivers-Test.org: http://driving-tests.org/beginner-drivers/construction-zones-how-to-stay-safe/

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