The News Wheel
No Comments

Safety Tips to Remember When Driving in a Work Zone

Decrease Font Size Increase Font Size Text Size Print This Page

There probably isn’t a day that your commute or running around town doesn’t route you through or near a work zone. And, although work zones are really never a welcomed sight, learning to navigate them safely is the responsibility of every driver.

According to the experts at Travelers.com, when you find your wheels in a work zone, you need to be ready for anything—traffic changes, workers on the roadway, other drivers’ bad driving habits, and moving equipment.

Due to the unpredictability of work zones, it’s a good idea to reduce speed, according to the Travelers.com experts, and always follow the signs and listen to the directions of the construction workers.

Give yourself plenty of room, too.

“Leave adequate braking room between your vehicle and the one ahead of you. Count out at least two seconds from the time the car ahead of you passes an object and the time your own car passes that object.  Also, keep a safe distance between your vehicle and traffic barriers, trucks, construction equipment and workers,” advises the Missouri Department of Transportation.

And don’t get swept up in the bad behavior of others.

“Do not force tailgaters to back off by slamming on your brakes or reducing your speed significantly,” explains the Missouri Department of Transportation. “This practice can lead to road rage and increases the chances of a collision. When possible, pull over and let them pass. If this is not possible, turn your headlights on and off several times during daylight hours to illuminate your tail lights and warn tailgaters they are too close. If at night, lightly tap your brake pedal to illuminate your brake lights.”

Because work zones are super busy, you need to be super-focused.

“Your full attention should be on the road. Never multitask while driving, especially through a work zone, where activity is happening all around you,” advise the experts at Travelers.com.

Of course, whenever possible, reroute to miss work zones by reviewing traffic alerts and checking real-time traffic updates on your smartphone. If avoiding work zones is not possible, plan for more time on the road by heading out a little earlier than normal, advise the Travelers.com experts.

Finally, the Missouri Department of Transportation reminds you to keep calm and try to remember that work zone inconveniences now will lead to better roads in the future.

News Source: Travelers, Missouri Department of Transportation