In the Midwest we have a saying: “There are two seasons- winter and the season of construction.” That’s probably true for the Eastern Seaboard as well. As road construction workers make their way into our daily commute, concerns grow about the safety and security available to workers and summer road warriors in search of fun in the sun.
How To Avoid Road Accidents
The fact remains that there are simple ways in which drivers can assist the workers in matters of safety. Here are some key tips to being accident free so that you can enjoy a drama-free summer.
1. Plan road trips in advance.
A great place to start is at the destination state’s website for information on upcoming construction areas. For example, the state of Wisconsin has updated its planned summer highway construction areas and has laid them out in advance to assist drivers. County by county they listed the location of major road construction sites, the construction schedule, the length of the highway impacted and a description of the work and its impacts on traffic.
This is all of major importance, especially when you have a major move and are expecting important items such as your car to be easily and quickly shipped via an auto transport company like Montway.
2. Give yourself enough time to navigate the road.
Leaving in a mad rush can make for deadly mistakes. It can also take your mind off of where it needs to be, which is on the road. This brings to light another on of our tips…
3. Keep your eyes on the road and not on navigational equipment.
Don’t be distracted by texting and phone conversations. Many states have cell phone use laws and it is very important to take notice of these during times of construction, where the life you save many not only be your own– but that of someone’s father or son, mother or daughter.
4. Revisit the ‘Rules of the Road’ pertaining to construction sites.
Many of us have been driving so long that we maneuver our ride within old habits- which aren’t always the right or best ones. Once we have our licenses, we often take for granted the fact that we know everything there is to know and throw this integral piece of information out the window. Did you know that the State of Illinois, like many states, currently have the Rules of the Road handbook uploaded on its site so it is easily accessible. There are yearly updates in the event that you want to schedule a yearly check on your driving knowledge.
5. Slow down through construction sites and take note of the decreases and increases in speed.
It’s important to know if the construction site you are in is a long-term construction site or whether it’s only a 24-hour zone, which makes tip number one even more important. For instance, the Minnesota Department of Transportation states in its Work Zone Speed Limits Guide that the minimum highway work zone speed limit is 20 miles per hour. The “work zone speed limit must not reduce the established speed limit on the affected street or highway by more than 15 MPH,” and the highway work zone speed limit must not exceed 40 MPH.
Ultimately, everyone should be putting their defensive driving to the test. And remember: if you are driving cross country just to transport your car, you can easily save yourself the time and frustration by using an auto transport company like Montway. Shipping cars from place to place is the only thing we specialize in, and highway construction is certainly not new to us. Avoid the delay and the stress that goes with multiple highway construction sites and ship your with us instead.
IMAGE: Courtesy of Flickr by Public Domain Photos
Learn more about our car shipping services
