10 Tips For Driving In Work Zones
April 3 - 7 is National Work Zone Awareness Week. Every spring, Missouri Department of Transportation gears up for the summer season of construction and maintenance work across the state. At Hulett Chevrolet-Buick-GMC, we want to make sure you get to your destination safely. If you are planning a road trip to enjoy the beautiful spring and summer weather, you are most likely going to run across a work zone - or two - in your travels. Here are 10 tips to keep in mind when you enter a work zone.
1. Work zones are a no phone zone. The average text takes five seconds to read. When traveling at 55 mph, you will travel the length of a football field - blindfolded. Work zone operations can move as slow as 10 mph. If you aren't paying attention to the road, you can come up on a closed lane, work vehicle or worker very quickly.
2. Expect the unexpected. No matter where you are traveling, if you come along a work zone, expect the unexpected. Speed limits can be reduced, traffic lanes could change and people and vehicles may be working on or near the road.
3. Slow down and pay attention. Diamond-shaped orange warning signs are posted ahead of road construction project. When you come across these, remember to slow down, be alert and pay attention to the signs.
4. Be patient while in work zones. Work zones are not there to personally inconvenience you. They're there to improve the condition of the roads. Many states, including Missouri, has multiple projects going on at once. Don't become an aggressive driver when you come across a work zone - or two - on your travels.
5. Be a defensive driver. When driving in a work zone, the most common crash is a rear-end collision. Remember to leave plenty of space between you and the vehicle in front of you. Most rear-end collisions occur because of drivers following too close and traveling too fast for conditions.
6. Reduce your speed and move over. Since 2012, Missouri's Slow Down and Move Over law includes MoDOT vehicles parked with amber/white lights flashing. Motors are required to slow down and change lanes when approaching MoDOT vehicles or law enforcement and emergency vehicles with lights flashing.
7. Keep an eye out for equipment and workers. Keep a safe distance between your vehicle and traffic barriers, construction equipment and construction workers. Highway workers want to return home safely after each day, just like you.
8. Follow the posted signs until you see one that says you have left the work zone. Some work zones are mobile, such as line painting, road patching and mowing. This means that they move down the road as the work is finished. Just because you don't see the workers immediately after seeing a work zone sign, it doesn't mean they're not out there.
9. Don't zone out in a work zone. Driver inattention was the number one cause of work zone accidents last year. In 2016, distracted/inattentive, following too closely, driving too fast for conditions, substance-impaired and improper lane use/changing lanes were the top five causes of work zone crashes.
10. Plan ahead. Missouri is gearing up for the busy summer season of construction projects. Be prepared on your travels and visit traveler.modot.org to see a list of active work zone projects so you can plan your trip accordingly.
The busy road construction seasons is quickly approaching. Your Camdenton car dealership wants to make sure your travels go off without a hitch. From our auto body shop to our new and used cars at the Lake of the Ozarks, Hulett Chevrolet-Buick-GMC can help.
513 N. Business Route 5
Sales: 573.317.4191
1. Work zones are a no phone zone. The average text takes five seconds to read. When traveling at 55 mph, you will travel the length of a football field - blindfolded. Work zone operations can move as slow as 10 mph. If you aren't paying attention to the road, you can come up on a closed lane, work vehicle or worker very quickly.
2. Expect the unexpected. No matter where you are traveling, if you come along a work zone, expect the unexpected. Speed limits can be reduced, traffic lanes could change and people and vehicles may be working on or near the road.
3. Slow down and pay attention. Diamond-shaped orange warning signs are posted ahead of road construction project. When you come across these, remember to slow down, be alert and pay attention to the signs.4. Be patient while in work zones. Work zones are not there to personally inconvenience you. They're there to improve the condition of the roads. Many states, including Missouri, has multiple projects going on at once. Don't become an aggressive driver when you come across a work zone - or two - on your travels.
5. Be a defensive driver. When driving in a work zone, the most common crash is a rear-end collision. Remember to leave plenty of space between you and the vehicle in front of you. Most rear-end collisions occur because of drivers following too close and traveling too fast for conditions.
6. Reduce your speed and move over. Since 2012, Missouri's Slow Down and Move Over law includes MoDOT vehicles parked with amber/white lights flashing. Motors are required to slow down and change lanes when approaching MoDOT vehicles or law enforcement and emergency vehicles with lights flashing.
7. Keep an eye out for equipment and workers. Keep a safe distance between your vehicle and traffic barriers, construction equipment and construction workers. Highway workers want to return home safely after each day, just like you.
9. Don't zone out in a work zone. Driver inattention was the number one cause of work zone accidents last year. In 2016, distracted/inattentive, following too closely, driving too fast for conditions, substance-impaired and improper lane use/changing lanes were the top five causes of work zone crashes.
10. Plan ahead. Missouri is gearing up for the busy summer season of construction projects. Be prepared on your travels and visit traveler.modot.org to see a list of active work zone projects so you can plan your trip accordingly.
The busy road construction seasons is quickly approaching. Your Camdenton car dealership wants to make sure your travels go off without a hitch. From our auto body shop to our new and used cars at the Lake of the Ozarks, Hulett Chevrolet-Buick-GMC can help.
That's The Way We Do It At Hulett!
513 N. Business Route 5
Camdenton, MO 65020
Sales: 573.317.4191
Service: 573.317.4195
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