Electric utility vehicles and workers often share streets and roadways with motorists in order to access overhead power lines and other electrical equipment. This can be dangerous for workers and motorists. Safe Electricity urges you to go slowly and be especially careful when you see crews at work. Typically, hundreds of workers are killed on road work zones each year. Fatal work zone crashes occur most often in the summer and fall. More than twice as many work zone crashes happen on weekdays compared to weekends, so be extra cautious driving to and from work.
To help prevent fatalities and injuries this year, remember these guidelines while driving:
- Slow down, move over and proceed with caution in a work zone.
- Keep a safe distance between your vehicle and traffic barriers, trucks, construction equipment and workers.
- Be patient: Traffic delays are sometimes unavoidable, so try to allow time for unexpected delays in your schedule.
- Obey all signs and road crew flag instructions.
- Merge early and be courteous to other drivers.
- Use your headlights at dusk and during inclement weather.
- Minimize distractions: Avoid changing the radio station, using a cell phone, eating while driving or other distractions.
The most common crash in a roadway work zone is the rear-end collision, so remember to leave at least four car lengths of braking distance between you and the car in front of you.
