MOTORISTS: CAUTION – WORK ZONES AHEAD

NEWS from AAA Oklahoma, July 8, 2009 – As the summer travel season kicks into high gear, AAA urges motorists to use caution and drive safely when approaching and driving through work zones. As a result of the enactment of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, which included $27 billion for states and cities to repair and build roads and bridges, more and more orange barrels are appearing on highways across the country.

“Given the backlog of transportation needs nationwide, AAA strongly supported designating some of the economic recovery funds for transportation,” said Chuck Mai, spokesman for AAA Oklahoma. “It’s important for the driving public to be aware of the increased construction activity and to adjust to changing driving conditions and work zones when they encounter them, especially during this peak travel period.”

During 2006 in Oklahoma, 17 people were killed and 550 were injured in crashes in work zones. In 2007 across the nation, 835 people were killed in work zone crashes. It’s estimated that nearly four out of every five people injured or killed in work zone crashes are motorists, not roadway construction workers. According to the Federal Highway Administration, drivers can expect to encounter an active work zone on one out of every 100 miles of the National Highway System.

AAA offers the following work zone safety tips to motorists:

Plan Ahead – Check for planned work zone delays and traffic advisories. Free to all travelers, the AAA TripTik Travel Planner online mapping tool, available at AAA.com, provides motorists with the latest road construction and traffic congestion information, and enables drivers to plan and select alternative travel routes if needed.

Stay Alert – Minimize interior and exterior distractions and obey all road signs. Construction zones may contain unusual vehicles or machinery that can divert a driver’s attention. Be prepared to stop, slow down, shift lanes and yield to the movement of construction workers and equipment. 

Reduce Speed – For the safety of all drivers and construction workers, speed limits are almost always reduced in work zones. In most states, including Oklahoma, the fine for speeding in a work zone when workers are present is doubled.