When driving in work zones you should always exercise caution. One of the greatest responsibilities and duties of drivers is to slow down and drive extra cautiously around construction zones. It is estimated that close to 1,000 people die each year in construction zone car crashes and nearly two people die every day in the United States. In response, states and municipalities have erected signs that warn drivers when they are entering a construction zone. Some signs direct drivers to reduce their speed, while others might feature the outlines or sketches of construction workers. These signs play an important role in safeguarding our construction workers. They are monitored and enforced by law enforcement; failure to follow these signs and posted speed limits will be met with severe fines. So what is the law? Federal guidelines recommend a speed of between 45 and 55 miles per hour around highway construction zones. Reducing the speed is supposed to give drivers more time to adjust to unforeseen circumstances, which usually means putting on the brakes. Not all construction zones, of course, are on a highway. Many are in urban sectors, suburbs, and congested residential areas. In such situations, you should reduce your speed to 20 miles per hour and drive extra cautiously. Most, if not all, states impose severe penalties for speeding around construction zones. It's important to know the local laws of the state and municipality in which you live so that you can comply with the regulations and avoid the penalties. But fines can only do so much. To reduce the number of construction zone car accidents and death, we need to raise awareness and educate drivers about the rules of the road and what can happen when those rules are ignored. They put workers and themselves in harm's way.

Tips for Driving in Construction Zones

Here are five tips to help minimize your risk of getting into a car accident around a construction zone:

1. Stay focused.

Be extra aware of your surroundings when you’re driving. Do you see construction vehicles around construction zones or signs indicating that you may be entering a construction zone? Being aware of your surroundings is not just for construction zones – it’s good driving behavior that is expected all the time. Distracted driving is the number one cause of accidents. Around construction zones, it is an accident waiting to happen.

2. Don't slam on your brakes.

Avoid suddenly hitting the brakes. Instead of slamming on your brakes, gently apply your brakes to signal to the driver behind you that a construction zone is up ahead. Just be sure to do it in a controlled way so that it doesn’t cause a chain reaction.

3. Avoid lane switching.

Avoid last-minute lane changes if you see a construction zone up ahead.

4. Follow the construction zone speed limit.

Speeding in a construction zone is a big no-no. Not only is there the chance that you will have to pay a steep fine, but consider the workers who are put in harm’s way when drivers speed.

5. Drive with the flow of traffic.

Predictability is important so that other drivers know what to expect. If you speed up or drive too slowly, that can cause a chain reaction, which can lead to major collisions. If you go against the flow of traffic and don’t realize that there is a construction zone up ahead, you are putting yourself and other drivers in a potentially dangerous situation. Keep an eye out for construction vehicles around construction zones and remember to practice your defensive driving skills and exercise caution when approaching a construction zone.   This blog post was contributed by Fix Auto Quartz Hill, a leading industry expert and collision repair shop servicing Quartz Hill, Lancaster, and Palmdale.