People throughout Wisconsin seem pretty excited now that Foxconn, a Taiwanese company that supplies Apple and other tech corporations with electronic components, has announced it plans to invest $10 billion in the state’s southeast for a brand new facility. While the international company’s presence could bring thousands of new jobs to the state, it will certainly bring some new headaches in terms of roadwork. The I-94 and other freeways in the region are already notorious for bogging down traffic with construction and seemingly random spates of repairs and changes. In order to build such a massively-costed facility, it can be assumed that the freeway situation will worsen before it gets better.
To raise even more concern about the planned project, data from the Wisconsin Department of Transportation shows that construction zone crashes and injuries have been sharply on the rise in recent years. In 2011, the state saw 1,708 car accidents in construction zones. 2016 saw about a 60% rise in such accidents, bringing the total up to 2,811. The number of injuries reported in construction zone crashes between 2015 and 2016 nearly doubled.
Smart Safety Tips for Construction Zone Driving
With both construction zone car accidents already on the rise and more freeway construction assuredly in the future around southwest Wisconsin, there is no better time than the present to learn some smart safety tips to avoid such accidents. Our Wisconsin car accident attorneys at Casey Law Offices, S.C. want everyone in our communities to be as safe as can be. We have compiled a quick list of easy-to-remember hints and tips for construction zone driving that you should know and pass onto your friends.
Keep these safety tips in mind whenever driving in a construction zone:
- Work zone flaggers: While you are in a construction zone, you may encounter a flagger, or a construction employee who directs traffic with flags, not unlike a police officer who might direct traffic after an accident blocks an intersection. You must obey the directions of work zone flaggers, and doing so should reduce your chances of getting into a collision.
- Slow down: Most construction zones have a speed limit of just 25 or 30 miles per hour, even if the limit is not physically posted at the entrance of the zone. You should assume that a slower speed is safer for yourself and the men and women employed at the construction site. Never drive faster than current traffic and road conditions allow.
- Increased distance: Tailgating is always dangerous but it is especially hazardous in construction zones where cars are more likely to need to come to a sudden stop. It is a good idea to increase your follow distance from 3 seconds behind to 5 seconds.
- Stay in your lane: Changing lanes while driving through a construction zone is highly discouraged. Other drivers who are focusing on the sights and sounds around them may not realize that your car shifting into their lane. This could result in a car accident, even if it would not have in normal driving conditions.
- Be mindful of equipment: Heavy pieces of construction equipment can pose significant dangers to drivers in the best of circumstances. As you are entering a construction zone, take a rapid account of cranes, bulldozers, scaffolding, etc. in the area without distracting yourself from your regular driving responsibilities. If you have a passenger in the car, it might be useful to ask him or her to spot all the heavy equipment for you and keep their eyes on the closest ones.
If you or a loved one do get hurt while traveling through a construction zone, you can depend on our Wisconsin personal injury law firm for honest and compassionate legal representation backed by 26+ years of trial-tested experience. With our help, you might be able to collect fair and maximized compensation for your damages. Use an online contact form today to tell us what happened and set up a free initial consultation.