Well, it’s getting to be that time of year again when those doggone construction workers are everywhere. Work zones seem to pop up with speed limit signs, long delays and all of those strange-looking machines and giant dump trucks. There is so much activity!
More than 1,000 construction workers are killed every year in construction zones. I’ve driven through many work zones and I’ve noticed workers who do occasionally lose focus on their surroundings and accidentally find themselves awfully close to traffic. Bulldozers, tractors, graders and dump trucks are only a few of the obstacles littering the highway in work zones. It’s up to professional truck drivers to keep their eyes open for movement and to watch for workers.
One sign that puts the construction zone danger into perspective reads “Please be careful, my mommy / daddy works here.” For some reason that sign hits home for me. I guess it’s because, as a driver on these crazy highways, danger lurks around every bend. Regardless of who is at fault, the driver or the worker, the end result is the same. I can’t imagine what it would feel like to inform a 10-year-old boy or girl that a parent will never be coming home again.
Always be aware of unexpected activity. A worker might accidentally trip and fall into oncoming traffic and be face to face with an 80,000-pound truck; and drivers know that a truck can’t stop on a dime. Obey the posted speed limit (the signs with yellow flashing lights) and follow the information on the sign, such as “Trucks use left lane“ or “Workers present,” and above all, slow down and be aware of your surroundings.
Don’t pass in a construction zone! I don’t know how many times I’ve been almost forced into a wall or a guide rail while trying to avoid some fool passing me. Some lanes are not wide enough for trucks to pass each other. There is nothing so important that you can’t be a little patient.
Always try to keep a safe distance from the workers to allow them to do their job. Construction workers are making our highways safer and smoother. All drivers know what rough roads can do to a truck: break an axle, blow a tire or cause a load shift, which could potentially cause a truck to roll over or lose control.
Don’t tailgate; if the vehicle ahead of you needs to stop quickly, more than one disaster could take place. It’s annoying to watch a big truck tailgating a four-wheeler on the open highway; in a work zone it could be deadly. Giving the vehicles in front some space allows them to pay attention to workers and the goings-on around them.
So, let’s give them a break, let workers do their job and make children happy when their mommy or daddy returns home.
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