Work Zone Driving
The Issue
More than 40,000 people each year are injured in work zone crashes. Eighty-five percent of those killed in work zones are drivers or their passengers. The number of persons killed in motor vehicle crashes in work zones rose from 693 in 1997 to 1,079 in 2001.
The Issue in the Kansas City Region
Summer is typically the busiest road construction season for the Kansas and Missouri Departments of Transportation. Crashes in work zones are extremely dangerous because workers can easily be injured, and crashes often cause congestion-related time delays because of limited shoulders for wrecked vehicles to relocate in a collision. Secondary crashes are common. Urban areas account for 70 percent of all work zone crashes in Missouri.
What You Can Do
- Be cautious and alert. When you see the orange signs, cones, barrels or message boards on the highway, pay attention.
- Reduce your speed and watch for workers, machinery and adverse conditions while in a work zone. Observe all work zone warning signs, especially speed limit signs.
- Pay attention to flaggers in orange vests directing traffic.
Keep a safe distance between your vehicle and traffic barriers, workers, equipment and other vehicles. Be prepared to slow down or completely stop. - Use extra caution when driving through work zones at night.
- Merge as soon as possible at the first notice of a lane closure or change. Resist the urge to “jockey for position” as you approach or leave a work zone.
- Avoid distractions, especially in work zones. Don’t use your cell phone, put on makeup or change a CD.
- Delays can be frustrating, but remain patient. These people are making the roads better for you. It’s their job.
- Don’t tailgate. One of every three work zone crashes is a rear-end collision.
- Become familiar with your typical routes and possible construction delays you may encounter. Monitor changing road conditions through Kansas City Scout and MARC’s Rideshare Commuter Alerts. This information is updated on a regular basis.
- Always buckle up.
