Driving near road construction sites
Posted in construction zones
As written for AAPEX Driving Academy.
There seem to be two seasons in Canada – winter and road construction. We don’t always like it but we do tend to get used to it. There are a few safety practices every driver should follow when driving near road construction sites. Here are five tips to follow:
- Reduce speed early, whether there are posted signs or not. Keep in mind that speeding fines are doubled in construction zones
- Choose a time of day when traffic is lighter when driving past these sites. That can help to improve your travel time.
- Be patient while traveling through these areas. Give yourself extra time to reach your destination.
- Watch for workers walking close to the edge of the lane when you have to drive next to them. They are desensitized to traffic passing next to them and won’t always realize how close they are. Creating space helps to protect them.
- Avoid looking into the areas the workers are working in. That can become a distraction that takes away your focus on the driving task. Keep in mind where you look is where you go.
Construction sites and zones are workplaces and need to be treated with respect and to ensure the safety of those who are working on that site.