Background

Preventing Accidents in Highway Construction Zones

By Jessie Mccafferty


Statistics show that most construction zone accidents that involve moving traffic happen in the transition zoneâ€"the space where autos are transitioning from the highway's regular speed to the reduced velocity of the zone. Often, lanes end during this area, they detour from their normal trail or they narrow, all leading up to the actual part of the zone where most workers are busy.

When drivers don't slow down, any unexpected stops needed due to closed lanes or changes are difficult to manage. Accidents are hardly ever because of workers being in the way, but being in the place a vehicle swerves to miss another car. This is a big factor in the number of accidents involving construction staff, particularly the lethal accidents.

Radar speed signs have been shown to reduce speeds wherever they are used, including construction sectors. But even aside from their ability, though driver feedback, to slow traffic, they offer another benefit. Distracted drivers may see the LED lights of the sign much more readily than they'll notice a static sign.

Someone looking down at a cell phone to text or read isn't going to have her attention drawn by a regular speed limit or construction warning sign she passes. A road sign with lights may catch her notice, though, especially if it's flashing when a driver's speed goes in excess of whatever limit it's programmed for.

So these can not only signs draw a distracted or tired driver's attention, they offer feedback that's been proved to slow most drivers, even if they are not speeding. When you install such a sign at the beginning of a transition section, it has the capability to slow traffic by many mph. If you consider the benefits of getting drivers to concentrate and slow down in the most perilous part of a construction zone for employees, the purchase of these signs is a small price to pay.




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