1.  Always Use a Turn Signal and Use Your Mirrors

Construction zones can be difficult to navigate. One of the best ways to stay safe in a construction zone is to make sure that you always use turn signals, no matter what. Failure to use turn signals in such environments can exacerbate these uncertainties, leading to confusion among other drivers and construction workers. When drivers fail to signal their intentions, they leave others guessing about their next move, increasing the likelihood of misunderstandings and potential collisions. Even if it seems like it is safe to quickly move lanes, you should always put on your turn signal approximately 100 ft or 5 seconds before merging. Before you merge you should check all your mirrors to ensure that you are able to safely change lanes.

Turn Signals Give Other Driver Time to React

The most dangerous section of the construction zone is the entrance to the construction zone. This is why you should try to put on your turn signal and merge as soon as you have the opportunity to merge, so that other drivers will have a chance to see your car and react to you merging. Drivers who do not use their turn signals when they switch lanes will cause the car next to the driver to swerve, causing an accident to occur if the other driver cannot react quick enough. Overall, using turn signals in work zones promotes smoother traffic flow and minimizes the risk of collisions in construction areas.

2.  Avoid Semi-Truck Blind Spots

As any automobile driver, the safest way to avoid a wreck with a commercial motor vehicle in a construction zone is to avoid a truck driver’s blind spot. Semi-trucks can weigh up to 80,000 lbs whereas most cars weigh only around 4,000 lbs. This means that an accident with a semi can cause a horrific accident for the one in the car. Semi-trucks have large blind spots, also known as “no-zones,” where the driver’s view is significantly obstructed, making it challenging to see nearby vehicles. A semi-truck’s blind spot on the right side can extend up to three full lanes of traffic. Drivers who linger in these blind spots are at a higher risk of being involved in accidents, as the truck driver may not see them when changing lanes.

Narrow Construction Zone Lanes Increase Likelihood of a Semi-Truck Blind Spot Accident

In construction zones, where traffic flow is often congested and lanes may be narrowed, these blind spots pose an even greater danger to nearby vehicles.  For example, a driver lingering in a semi’s blind spot while traffic slows down or comes to a stop in a construction zone may be at risk of being rear-ended in the work zone if the truck driver cannot see them when braking. Additionally, when trucks are navigating tight spaces or making turns within construction zones, vehicles in a truck driver’s blind spot may be at risk of being sideswiped or squeezed against barriers or other vehicles. This is why it is important to never linger in the lane next to a large truck, nor should you attempt to pass on the truck’s right side. Staying out of these blind spots by either accelerating to pass the truck safely or slowing down to maintain a safe distance behind it can significantly reduce the risk of a work zone accidents with a large truck. Maintaining a safe distance and being aware of the truck’s mirrors can help drivers avoid potential collisions and ensure smoother traffic flow through construction zones, ultimately contributing to overall road safety.

3.  Put Your Phone Down

Using a phone while driving is one of the most common and deadly causes of construction zone accidents. Texting while driving is so dangerous that the National Transportation Safety Board reports that texting while driving is the equivalent of driving with a .24 blood-alcohol concentration (over three times the legal limit!) Of course, most people know the dangers of using their phone while driving, but cell phones are commonly used in construction zones during a traffic bottle up where drivers search for alternative routes to get to their destination, due to driver’s desire to avoid traffic. It might seem safe to use a phone during traffic backups in construction zones as the speed is lower, however, these traffic backups can start and stop again without notice. Taking a second to look at your phone in slowed traffic can easily cause a wreck if a car in front of you suddenly brakes, or if traffic suddenly clears ahead of you and the driver behind you expects you to start moving when you are still looking at your phone, unaware that traffic has begun moving again.

Construction Zone Hazards Increase Risk of a Distracted Driving Accident

Construction zones require your full attention as routes, lanes, and signs can change daily. Engaging with a phone and attempting to multitask while driving, whether texting, making calls, or using apps, diverts attention away from the road and increases the likelihood of accidents. In construction zones, where workers are present and heavy machinery is in operation, any distraction can have serious consequences, leading to injuries and possibly fatalities. Additionally, construction zones often have signage, cones, barriers, and temporary traffic controls that require careful observation. When drivers are distracted by their phones, they are less likely to notice these critical cues or to follow the instructions provided, leading to heightened risk of collisions.

4.  Eyes on the Road

Anything that diverts your attention from the road is dangerous, not just cell phones. Examples of other distractions include:

• Eating and drinking.
• Putting on makeup
• Smoking
• Reaching for an object in the car
• Conversing with passengers
• Daydreaming
• Distracted by controls in the car including
  • Radio
  • GPS
  • Navigation system

These distractions can lead to delayed reactions, failure to notice warning signs or construction equipment, and ultimately, collisions with workers, other vehicles, or stationary objects. Often, construction zones can have debris on the route or potholes that if you are distracted by something in your vehicle will fail to notice and risk causing a wreck. A driver who is distracted by a dropped object may fail to notice construction workers signaling or warning signs indicating lane closures or lane shifts. This can result in last-minute maneuvers, sudden braking, and collisions with other vehicles or construction equipment, posing serious risks to everyone in the vicinity.

Distracted Drivers Make Mistakes in Work Zones

In 2022, 3,308 people lost their lives from accidents caused by distracted driving. Distracted driving in a construction zone is especially dangerous because of the near daily updates that work zones go through, so drivers aren’t used to the route. Additionally, distractions can cause drivers to drift out of their lane due to the narrow lanes in work zones, overlook temporary traffic patterns, or miss important road markings, further increasing the likelihood of accidents in work zones. Work zones might have unfamiliar lane restrictions or merging instructions; if you are not paying full attention to the road, then you will easily crash in a construction zone.

5.  Plan Ahead

To properly stay safe in construction zones you should ALWAYS plan ahead. By reviewing your route before you start driving, you can identify any areas undergoing construction and anticipate potential delays or changes in traffic patterns. First, look up your route on your chosen GPS app, but also see if your state’s Department of Transportation operates a Live Traffic Map for drivers. These maps are updated more frequently and show where construction is being done. The maps also have live cameras that allow you to see where traffic is currently backed up. Moreover, knowing about construction zones in advance enables you to familiarize yourself with any specific instructions or signage related to lane closures, detours, or reduced speed limits, ensuring you can navigate through these areas with confidence. They allow people to be prepared for any traffic delays, along with any new construction zones.

• For example, INDOT’s Traffic Wise map can be found at this link.

Planning Ahead Avoids Construction Zone Stress

Knowing when and where a construction zone occurs on your route will help you to avoid the construction zone if you can. If you can’t avoid the construction zone, then planning ahead will ensure that you leave early enough in anticipation of traffic delays and backups in the construction zone. Make sure that you leave early when you know that a construction zone is on your route so that you can stay calm and you won’t be tempted to speed in the construction zone, which makes the route much more dangerous. Ultimately, taking the time to plan your route ahead of time not only helps you avoid unnecessary stress and delays but also promotes safer driving practices by allowing you to approach construction zones with the necessary caution and preparedness.

6.  Slow Down

Speeding is dangerous in all environments on the road. However, speeding in a construction zone is one of the most dangerous places that you can speed.  Moreover, higher speeds amplify the severity of collisions, posing a greater danger to everyone involved. Construction zones often present hazardous conditions, such as narrow lanes, uneven surfaces, and abrupt changes in traffic patterns, which require increased caution and reduced speeds to navigate safely. Excessive speed in these areas not only heightens the risk of collisions with construction workers and equipment, but also reduces a driver’s ability to react effectively to unexpected obstacles or hazards.

Speeding Causes Secondary Construction Zone Wrecks

Many wrecks occur in construction zones when someone is speeding and not paying attention to stopped traffic up ahead. Construction zones often get backed up with traffic, especially after a crash occurs in the construction zone. Secondary crashes that occur while a wreck is still being clear from the first accident are the most dangerous collisions that can happen near a construction zone. Most construction zones on the interstate have max speeds of 45 mph. In locations not on the highway, construction zone speeds can vary, but many construction zones will have a flagger out with a stop sign. These are some of the most dangerous construction zones for workers because a speeding driver that rams into someone holding a stop sign will likely die in the ensuing wreck.

Speeding in a Work Zone is Not Worth the Risk

Speeding an extra 15-mph in a 45-mph zone might seem like it cuts down commute time significantly, but for a 30-minute commute, it would only save you a minute, at best and instead, could cost you several hours or days in a hospital, or even result in a loss of life. When you gain this perspective, it shows that speeding saves you an insignificant amount of time for the risks that speeding creates. Speeding is a factor in at least 26% of fatal crashes. Most states have laws that increase the penalty for speeding when in a work zone, with speeding fines in work zones double or even triple the amount of a speeding ticket outside of a construction zone. For example, in Indiana a first-time citation for speeding in a work zone will result in a $300 fine.

7.  Do Not Drive Aggressively

One of the most common ways for a wreck to happen in a construction zone is due to aggressive driving. People easily lose patience when the road is backed up and if they were in a rush, they might partake in dangerous and aggressive behaviors on the road. The AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety found that 56% of fatal crashes are associated with aggressive driving behaviors. These behaviors will not make the traffic disperse any quicker. Instead, reckless driving can easily result in a collision that could injure or kill someone. In 2019’s AAA survey, 80% of drivers expressed significant anger, aggression, or road rage in the past 30 days.  Because of the risks that come from driving aggressively in a construction zone, many states have passed laws with high penalties for driving aggressively. Most states now have laws that mandate a $10,000 fine and possible jail time for hitting a construction zone worker.

What Behaviors are Linked to Aggressive Driving?

Aggressive driving in construction zones includes behaviors such as:

• Speeding
  • 48% of drivers admitted to driving 15mph over the speed limit in the past 30 days.
• Following too closely
  • 34% of drivers admitted to following another vehicle closely to prevent a vehicle from merging in front of the driver in the past 30 days.
• Making unsafe lane changes
  • 26% of drivers admitted to driving aggressively by switching lanes quickly without a turn signal in the past 30 days.
• Cutting in front of another driver
  • 22% of drivers passed in front of a vehicle at less than a car length in the past 30 days.
• Driving through a red light
  • 31% of drivers admitted to driving through a red light in the past 30 days.
• Honking and making rude gestures
  • 32% of drivers admitted to aggressively honking or making rude gestures at another vehicle in the previous 30 days.

Preventing Aggressive Driving Behaviors

To drive safely in a construction zone, remember that instead of driving aggressively when another driver frustrates you to take a deep breath and do the following:

• Maintain a safe following distance.
• Use turn signals when switching lanes.
• Allow others to merge.
• Don’t respond to another driver who is aggressive.
• Only honk if necessary to avoid a crash.

8.  Don’t Drive Fatigued

Fatigued driving is unbelievably dangerous. Fatigued driving impairs a driver’s reaction time, judgement, and decision making and it is quite common with 1 in 20 drivers admitting having fallen asleep at the wheel in the previous 30 days. In a construction zone, you must be fully aware at all times and drivers who are fatigued cannot perform at the same level as a driver who has gotten significant rest. Fatigued drivers tend to experience what are called “micro-sleeps” which are 4 to 5 second periods where drivers begin to fall asleep. A AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety study found that 328,000 drowsy driving crashes occur annually, with 6,400 fatal drowsy driving crashes. It’s easy to convince yourself that you are okay to drive, but the truth is that driving after going 20 or more hours without sleep is equivalent to driving with a BAC of .08. Drivers who are fatigued that fall asleep behind the wheel cannot brake to avoid a crash and barrel straight towards the other vehicle at full speed.

Who is the Most At-Risk for Drowsy Driving?

Drivers who are at the greatest risk for drowsy driving include:

• Teen and young adult drivers
  • The AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety reports that 16–24-year-olds are 80% more likely to be in a drowsy driving accident compared with other age groups. 68% of teens report sleeping less than 8 hours per night. Schools with early start times have been shown to have higher teen crash rates than those with a start time an hour later. Drowsy teen drivers, who are already inexperienced on the road, cannot react quickly enough to prevent an accident.
• Drivers on the road between midnight and 6 a.m.
• Drivers who sleep less than 7 hours a night
  • The CDC found that 1 in 3 drivers are chronically sleep deprived.
• Commercial truck drivers
• Drivers who work night shifts
  • For example, law enforcement officers, doctors, nurses, and other hospital workers.
• Drivers with untreated sleep disorders, like sleep apnea, insomnia, and narcolepsy
  • • Research shows that 70 million Americans have a sleep disorder. People with sleep apnea are 6 times as likely to get in a crash than those without sleep apnea.

Drowsy Driving Warning Symptoms

Make sure to get at least 7 hours of sleep to properly be attentive on the road. If you find yourself doing these drowsy driving symptoms, pull over immediately and do not drive until you have had a restful sleep:

• Yawning
• Difficulty keeping your eyes open
• Drifting out of your lane
• Difficulty maintaining your speed
• Missing road signs or turns
• Drifting onto the shoulder of the road

9.  Don’t Drive Impaired

Crashes that result from a driver who is impaired by alcohol, or drugs are some of the most horrific crashes that result in severe injuries or death. Alcohol is involved in 29% of fatal crashes and impaired driving was linked to 326,000 injuries yearly.  Substances that have been linked to increased crash risk include:

• Alcohol
• Marijuana
• Opioids
• Stimulants

In a National Security Council survey, 14.5% of those surveyed admitted to driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs at least once in the last 12 months. The higher one’s BAC is, the higher the risk for a fatal crash becomes.

Is there a “Safe” BAC for Drivers?

Every state in the US has a law against drunk or impaired driving. The legal point of intoxication in every state, but Utah (which has a BAC limit of .05), is a blood alcohol level of .08 or above for drivers 21 and older. Research also shows that 538 lives could be saved annually by reducing the legal driving limit to .05. A BAC of .08 is equal to approximately 3 drinks for the average 170lb female and 4 drinks for the average 198lb male. For drivers younger than 21 and commercial motor vehicle drivers such as bus and truck drivers, states set a “zero tolerance” level that is set at .02 for 42 states, while 8 states set “zero tolerance” limits at a BAC of .01 or .00.

However, just because a driver’s BAC is less than .08 doesn’t mean they are safe to drive. Even one drink substantially increases the risk of a crash. Research has found that by a BAC of .048, there are significant reductions in working memory, information processing speed, and increases in errors, causing them to react too slowly to prevent a wreck with another vehicle.

Don’t Drive When Taking Prescriptions that Cause Drowsiness

Also, taking any medications that list on the label that they can cause drowsiness means that you are not safe to drive a vehicle. Just because a prescription is prescribed by your doctor, that does not necessarily mean that you can safely drive within a certain number of hours of taking the medication. Even some over-the-counter medications can cause impairment. Some medicines that could cause impairment include:

• Antipsychotic medications
• Antiseizure medications
• ADHD medications
• Muscle relaxants
• Sleeping Pills
• Anxiety medications like benzodiazepines
• Allergy medicines with antihistamines
• Motion Sickness medicines
• Opioids

Talk to your doctor about the possible side effects of your medication. Causing a wreck while you are taking a medication that causes drowsiness, even if you are prescribed the medication, means you still could be found liable for causing the wreck due to negligence.

Missouri Marijuana Liability

As of December 8, 2022, a ballot initiative legalized possession of up to 3 ounces of recreational marijuana in Missouri for adults 21 and older. If you have a marijuana prescription, it is legal to possess up to 12 ounces of marijuana in a 60-day period for patients 18 and older. However, if you live in a state where marijuana is legal, even if you have a prescription for it, if you are found to be under the influence of marijuana, and you cause a crash, you can be found liable for causing the wreck along with a possible OWI charge.

Schedule a Free Case Review with our Construction Accident Attorneys Today

If you were injured or lost a loved one in a work zone accident, our experienced construction accident lawyers can help. At Craig, Kelley & Faultless, our dedicated attorneys help victims of work zone accidents determine what happened and who may owe you compensation for your injuries. We investigate accidents thoroughly and prepare each case carefully as if it is going to trial.

We handle work zone accident cases on a contingency fee basis, meaning that we only get paid when we win your case. Contact us by telephone at (800) 746-0226 or fill out our online form for a free evaluation of your construction accident case.

About the Author

David W. Craig sits on the Board of Regents of the ATAA (which requires the board certification in truck accident law). He is the managing partner, as well as one of the founding partners of the law firm of Craig, Kelley & Faultless LLC. He is also recognized as a Top 10 Trucking Trial Lawyer and Top 100 Trial Lawyer in Indiana by the National Trial Lawyers. David is the author of Semitruck Wreck, A Guide for Victims and Their Families, written to help victims and their families as they navigate through a terrible situation and answers the host of questions that come after a tragic wreck. He is also the host of the podcast, After the Crash where you can gain valuable information about the dangers involving semis and large trucks that do not follow Indiana law safety protocol on roads regarding speed, weather conditions, maintenance upkeep, etc.