The Dangers Of Not Obeying Traffic Control And Road Construction Signs
Hasty motorists often ignore traffic control and road construction signs without regard to the fatal consequences. Our daily lives distract us from the road, cell phones ring, we’re late for meetings or quickly need a bite to eat, however ignoring these signs place both motorists and pedestrians at risk.It’s important to obey reduced speed signs when encountering construction zones. Speeding in a construction zone may have fatal consequences. The Federal Highway Administration warns that stopping distance at 50 MPH is 300 feet on a dry road. Quickly stopping at this speed is not a possibility, even with antilock breaks. On a wet road, the distance is increased to 400 feet. Icy pavement increases stopping distance to 1,250 feet. Heavy vehicles, such as tractors take a greater distance to stop, a 40-ton tractor requires 50% more stopping distance! If you don’t heed the warnings, you may end up in jail for vehicular homicide or vehicular manslaughter. Obey the law.
Traffic control and road construction signs are more than just a nuisance; they warn us of dangerous situations. These signs allow for both road workers and motorists to safely maneuver through construction zones. Those who don’t heed the warnings may end up dead or in jail. The Federal Highway Administration warns us that within the past five years 4,400 people have been killed in construction zone accidents, and 200,000 people were injured. It’s noted that accidents are most often fatal for the driver. The aforementioned death and injury could’ve been greatly reduced if motorists paid attention to the warnings.
Another cause of road work zone accidents is improperly placed signs. Some accidents may be avoided through the proper installation of road construction signs. The Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA), states that Advanced Warning Signs must be placed 2,600 feet prior to roadwork on highways, and 100 feet in advance for slow-moving urban settings. Proper placement of these signs saves lives.
Don’t become another statistic; heed road construction warning signs. Safe drivers avoid all distractions, turn off your cell phone and pay attention to the road. Moreover, properly placed signs assure safety. Road construction crews and motorists must work together to ensure road construction zone safety.