As Georgia highways and roads are updated and repaired, drivers must adjust their speed, habits and routes to accommodate workers. If drivers ignore work zones and their limits, the results can be tragic. According to the Georgia Department of Transportation, there were over 27,000 crashes in work zones in 2018 and since 1973, 60 road workers have lost their lives while on the job. Drivers must be extremely aware and alert while driving through work zones and implement extra safety measures to keep the road safe.
Many accidents are caused by distracted driving and work zones are no exception. When in work zones, drivers must stay alert and minimize distractions. Your full attention should be on the road in front of you and construction zones are the wrong areas to use your phone, eat or change the radio station.
You can predict when traffic will slow down for a work zone by watching the brake lights of vehicles ahead of you. Be prepared for traffic to slow down quickly by watching the vehicles around you. In construction and work zones, vehicles may be forced to stop quickly and if you are distracted or not paying attention, it is easy to slam into the back of the vehicle in front of you. This puts anyone not protected by a vehicle at an additional risk.
Keep in mind when you are driving in construction zones that fines are often doubled for moving traffic violations because workers are often just a few feet away from the vehicles on busy roads like freeways and highways. Drivers should always expect the unexpected in construction zones and watch closely for any abrupt changes that may lead to an accident.
This information is for educational purposes and should not be interpreted as legal advice.
