TIPS FOR STAYING SAFE DURNG ROAD CONSTRUCTION SEASON

April 2-6 has been designated Work Zone Safety Awareness week by the Federal Highway Administration. On average in Wisconsin, there are more than 1,700 work zone accidents each year resulting in 12 fatalities. As construction season on Wisconsin roads begins, Captain John Matz of the Winnebago County Sheriff’s Department said drivers should keep the following things in mind:

Slow down in construction zones. Fines double in construction zones, Matz said. An average speeding ticket can cost a driver between $186 and $501. However, in a construction zone, the same offenses will cost a person between $249 and $879.

Give enough room between you and the vehicle in front of you. Matz said it’s important to pay extra attention to the distance between cars in construction zones because extra time may be needed to slow down and stop. Be aware of your surroundings. Sometimes construction zones can get confusing. It’s hard to know exactly which lane to drive in. Allow extra time. Where there are lane closures, double the amount of traffic is reduced to just one lane, creating more congestion and a slower travel time. Notice the speed limit. Speed limits vary from one construction zone to the next.

When driving in the area where construction workers are working, or emergency vehicles or a tow truck are present, move over. Wisconsin has a move over law, which states that motorists must move to the furthest lane on roadways with two or more lanes proceeding in the same direction. If it’s a one lane highway or road, Matz said, “slow down.”