The country is in the middle of its fifth season, road construction season. Every summer, workers get out there to fix the nation’s highways. They set up orange barrels, message boards, and traffic controls signs to let everyone know they are there. Even with all those precautions, there are still fatalities among the workers every year. No one sets out to injure a road worker or have an accident with a construction truck, they are accidents. However, they are avoidable accidents that happen due to carelessness and distracted driving. Here are some practical tips for safe driving in work zones.

Stay Alert and Focused

There a lot of men and machines moving around at any construction zone. Trucks will enter and exit the site at any point while flaggers direct traffic within. Don’t get distracted by your phone or your passengers and don’t mess with the radio. Keep your eyes on the road and hands on the wheel. Keeping your head up and scanning what’s ahead can help you avoid an accident.

Obey the Posted Speed Limit

Construction zones have their own posted speed limit that is slower than the normal one. Obey the zone speed limit to avoid a hefty speeding ticket. In some states, the fines in construction zones are triple and you could wind up with a $500 fine. The other reason is that slower speeds allow you to stop your vehicle faster in case of an emergency.

Don’t Tailgate

Tailgating is one of the worst driving habits. There is no good reason to ride the bumper of the car in front of you. Tailgating someone closely will almost grantee that you might rear-end the car in front of you if they must brake suddenly. Giving them space gives you the space to slow down and stop to avoid an accident.

Give Them Plenty of Space

This applies to the other cars on the road, but more importantly within the work zone itself. If there is room on the shoulder or another lane to drive in, use it. Give the orange barrels and people working nearby the extra room. Either way, being further away means you are further from a potential accident. Come to RNR Tire Express for only the best wheels and tires in Beaufort, SC. If we don’t have it, you don’t need it. Come see what we have in-person or online.