By Overpush, public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

WORK ZONES

Highway work zones are those portions of a street or highway where construction, maintenance or utility work is being done to the road, its shoulders, or any other items related to the roadway. This includes work such as underground and overhead utility work, tree trimming, and surveying activities. Highway work zones are easily recognized by the presence of orange signing and other orange traffic control devices, flashing lights on equipment, and workers dressed in highly visible clothing.

Each year nearly a thousand people are killed and thousands are injured as a result of crashes in highway work zones. Some of these are highway workers, flaggers, or law enforcement officials. However, over 80% of the fatalities and injuries are suffered by drivers, passengers, and pedestrians. Many of these work zone crashes are preventable.

Highway workers are trained on how to set up safe work zones with directional traffic signs and devices. Motorists and pedestrians are responsible for knowing how to read and react to these directions. Paying attention, and driving cautiously and courteously are the most important steps in preventing crashes while driving through highway work zones.

NOTE: Double Fines: The courts are required to fine a driver who speeds in a highway construction zone at least twice the amount of the regular fine for speeding.

DRIVING TIPS

Signing, traffic control devices, roadway markings, flaggers, and law enforcement officers are used to protect highway workers and direct drivers safely through work zones or along carefully marked detours. In many work zone situations, normal speed limits may be reduced for safety reasons. These reduced speed limits are clearly posted within the work zone. If there are no reduced speed limit postings, drivers should obey the normal posted speed limit, but continue to be alert and prepared for the unexpected.

When you travel through a work zone, remember these three tips:

Adjust your speed to conditions.
Adjust your lane position away from workers and equipment.
Prepare for the unexpected.

Because of their traveling speed and size, construction and repair equipment can present an unusual condition to motorists and pedestrians. It is important to note that equipment operators do not have the same ability to see around their vehicles as most drivers do. This makes it important for drivers and pedestrians to give them extra room and be prepared for the unexpected.

Night Work Zones
More and more roadway work is being completed after dark. In many situations, night work is the better alternative to restricting daytime use of the roadway, primarily to relieve traffic congestion for motorists. The hazards of driving through highway work zones are increased at night. Use extreme caution when driving through night work zones.

Flaggers Instructions
Flaggers and law enforcement officers are often used to give specific directions in work zones. Drivers should slow down and use extreme caution when approaching a flagger or officer. Follow all directions given by the flagger or officer.

Work Zone Traffic Control Devices
Highway work zones are set up according to the type of road and the work to be done on the road. Various traffic control devices are used in construction, maintenance and work areas to direct drivers and pedestrians safely through or around the work zone and provide for the safety of the highway workers.
The most commonly used traffic control devices are signs, barricades, drums, cones, tubes, and flashing arrow panels. The basic color used for most of these devices is orange.

Road Work Signs
Construction signs are used to notify drivers of unusual or potentially dangerous conditions on or near the traveled way. All temporary signs in work zones have an orange background and black letters or symbols. Most of these signs are diamond shaped, although some are rectangular

Utah Highway Patrol Cars: By Staplegunther, Public domain, from Wikimedia Commons

This work is licensed under a

Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 3.0 Unported License.