7 Tips For Driving Through Construction Zones

Your alarm didn’t go off, the kids refused to cooperate with the morning routine, and it was all you could do to get everyone out the door and headed to their respective activities. After this rushed morning, you’re flying out the door and racing towards your office. You have an important meeting, and it looks like you’ll barely make it on time. Suddenly, you spot brake lights in front of you and traffic slows to a miserable crawl – construction has started along your daily commute to work.

Sound familiar? Unfortunately, this stressful scene is one (or at least, similar to one) we’ve all experienced at some point in our lives. Construction zones seem to appear at the most inconvenient times, and if we have the option, we may be tempted to ignore the warning signs telling us to slow down. However, failure to obey these signs can have serious consequences. 

The Dangers Of Driving Through Construction Zones

Because of the workers and increased traffic often present in construction zones, the potential consequences for accidents that occur within construction zones is often much more severe than accidents that occur elsewhere. In an effort to protect the workers, state governments attempt to dissuade drivers from reckless behavior by imposing much greater legal consequences for accidents caused within construction zones. In order to avoid exposing yourself to these consequences, it is important to exercise extra caution while traveling through construction zones.

7 Tips For Driving Through Construction Zones

Here are a few tips to help keep you, your passengers, other drivers, and construction workers safe as you travel through construction zones.

1. Pay attention to all signs. These signs are your first warning of what’s to come, and heeding their warnings can give you the time you need to react.
2. Obey the speed limit. Following the speed limit is important no matter where you’re traveling, but it is especially critical in construction zones.
3. Change lanes in advance. If you know the lane you’re currently traveling in will be closing soon, go ahead and move over to the other lane. Waiting ’til the last minute increases your chances of an accident, and it ultimately won’t get you to your destination any sooner.
4. Don’t tailgate. Drivers may be required to react quickly in construction zones. If you are following the driver ahead of you too closely, you may not be able to react quickly enough and could rear-end them.
5. Minimize distractions. It’s important to stay focused and alert no matter when/where you’re driving, but it is especially critical in construction zones. Turn off the radio, hang up the phone, and save the snacks until you’re safely past the road work.
6. Remember that traffic patterns can change daily. The way you were expected to maneuver through the construction zone yesterday may be different than today, so it’s important to stay alert.
7. Be patient. This is certainly easier said than done, but getting stressed and impatient doesn’t help anything. Take a deep breath and try to remain as patient as possible while traveling through the construction zone.