As a driver on a highway, you’re exposed to various risks, but you can mitigate these risks by buying reliable auto insurance. Many drivers are comfortable with fulfilling just the minimum auto insurance requirements, but it usually leaves them underinsured. You need to talk to an insurance agent and find out the type of insurance coverage that matches your needs. Since highway work zones are one of the most hazardous places to drive on, it’s important to read about driving through heavy construction.
Driving Through Highway Work Zones
Highway work zones are areas where roads are getting built or repaired. These projects usually cause motorists to navigate through numerous signs, taking detours, and avoiding tools, and that environment is usually hazardous. If you’re driving through a highway work zone, you may encounter the following:
1. Caution Signs
You could be speeding down a road with a relaxed mind, only to see orange signages lined up ahead. The signages typically warn you to lower speed as you’re almost near a work zone. If you’re a truck driver, you need to take extra care because the space ahead is narrower, because of the workers and moving equipment occupying the road.
2. Road Rage
Some lanes are usually closed, causing traffic congestion. And as motorists take a detour, the traffic gets eased by turns, these are perfect conditions for impatient motorists to exhibit aggressive behavior. Some motorists may yell curse words and shout threats. Impatient and unstable motorists generally worsen the traffic by making hurried moves.
3. Tired Road Workers
Working in the hot sun and with constant exposure to construction materials isn’t the best workplace environment. But what makes it worse for road workers is encountering motorists with terrible attitudes and point-blank hostility. For instance, if the road worker flags down a lane so that traffic on the adjacent lane might move, a motorist may engage them aggressively, potentially giving you secondhand embarrassment.
4. Slippery Roads
When the roads are getting built or repaired, the entire section can potentially look like a mess. The construction materials may be littered about, and there may be a presence of oily substances. The combination of all these substances typically makes the road slippery. During the day, it’s easily apparent that the road isn’t in the best condition. But at night, motorists can barely see that the road is slippery. And so, it’s critical to drive cautiously when you reach a highway work zone.
5. Slow Drives
Once the lanes are closed off and motorists have to take detours, the traffic starts piling, and as you approach the work zone, you’ll notice a long endless line of slow-moving traffic. The best thing to do is just cooperate with the road workers and move slowly until the jam is clear. The worst behavior would be trying to create shortcuts and being unruly. Most people who attempt this hardly achieve any success and only end up making it worse for everybody.
6. Flashing Lights
Road workers typically flash bright lights to inform motorists that there’s ongoing construction. If your eyesight isn’t accustomed to such lights, it can be a perplexing moment. But generally, once you notice that you’re approaching a work zone, the first thing you need to do is lower your speed and drive more cautiously.
7. Unsafe Roads
Depending on the type of work that is underway, it’s not unusual to spot sections of the road broken and dismantled. Such conditions are not the best, and during the night, they can be pretty dangerous, especially if it’s a mountain road.
Tips for Navigating Work Zones Safely
Highway work zones are littered with hazards. The following are some of the things you can do to ensure you’re safe.
Drive slowly: with road sections closed off, and traffic getting congested, you need to lower your speed. If you’re driving a heavy vehicle, you need to apply brakes sooner and steadily.
Avoid tailgating: even if the traffic is moving at a slow pace, avoid driving too close to the vehicle in front. This keeps you safe and helps you avoid getting into fender benders.
Respect road workers: if there’s someone controlling traffic by motioning their flag, you should best believe they are collaborating with other road workers to decongest traffic effectively. And the least you can do is show them respect.
Avoid distractions: highway work zones are hazardous environments. Ensure that you’re 100% focused and avoid distractions like phone and radio.
HussaiN is a full-time professional blogger from India. He is passionate about content writing, tech enthusiasts, and computer technologies. Apart from content writing on the internet, he likes reading various tech magazines and several other blogs on the internet. Email ID: arrowtricks.pvt@gmail.com
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