There’s a lot of road work going on right now. We’ve got some beautiful weather for travelers and crews working to get jobs done before the onset of winter.
If you’ve hit the road in New England this summer, chances are you’ve seen work zones, you’ve seen the orange barrels and you’ve seen the roadside workers. They’re out there working to mow the grass on the side of the road, to fix pot holes and to build new bridges and new roads. They are working to make our Massachusetts family safer during their travels.
According to the Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT), driving dangerously through our state’s work zones not only jeopardizes the safety of roadside workers, but it also jeopardizes the safety of motorists. As a matter of fact, four out of every five people who are killed in work zone accidents are either the driver or the passenger of a passing vehicle. Some of the most common causes of these accidents is improper lane changes, driver fatigue and following too closely.
Our Massachusetts car accident lawyers are asking you to drive during off-peak hours whenever you can. This is not only to help keep you safe, but to help to keep roadside workers safe and to help to minimize traffic congestion. State workers often install concrete barrier walls during these kinds of projects to help to separate road traffic from construction crews. It’s also wise to make sure that all road work information is communicated to travelers. Roadside message boards should be used and workers should also wear highly-visible protective equipment. These areas should be policed with extra patrols and work areas should be cleaned up promptly.
When you’re driving through a work zone, it’s important to:
-Stay alert!
-Pay attention to speed limits.
-Beware of narrowing lanes.
-Be on the lookout for workers.
-Avoid tailgating other vehicles.
-Keep distractions out of the driver’s seat.
-Be ready for delays.
-Allow yourself with plenty of time to get through these areas.
-Select an alternate route whenever possible.
Keeping our work zones safe is a responsibility of everyone involved. We’re asking everyone in these areas to be safe and to use common sense when traveling through the busy fall months.
Those working in work zones are to make sure that the area has plenty of signage to alert passing motorists of the work that’s taking place and of the dangers present. There should also be barriers in these areas to help to keep workers away from passing traffic, according to MassDOT Work Zone Safety. It’s also a good idea to make sure that police are on site. This will help to address motorists who aren’t following the rules and to act as a deterrent to those who are thinking about breaking them.
If you or a loved one has been in a car accident, contact Jeffrey Glassman Injury Lawyers for a free and confidential consultation to discuss your case. Call 877-617-5333.
More Blog Entries:
Get Out of the Intersection! Boston Campaign Targets Traffic Squatters!, Boston Personal Injury Attorney Blog, September 6, 2012
Millions Offered to States with Primary Distracted Driving Laws, Boston Personal Injury Attorney Blog, August 26, 2012