It's been said that in Illinois, April showers don't only bring May flowers, they also bring road construction season. While those orange cones, Road Work Ahead signs and lowered speed limits are a common sight throughout the state of Illinois, do you really remember the laws and etiquette for driving through a Work Zone? Your safety and the safety of your passengers are at stake, but you're also endangering the lives of construction workers if you aren't paying attention and following the rules.
According to the Illinois Tollway there are, on average, 4,800 work zone auto crashes in Illinois each year. In 2013, 28 people were killed as a result of those crashes. To help keep Illinois roads safe, the personal injury lawyers at Lipkin & Apter have put together some Illinois Construction Zone Safety reminders and tips…
Pay Attention – While you should always be an attentive driver, be extra cautious when approaching and in a Work Zone. Be vigilant for warning signs, construction workers and shifting traffic patterns.
Don't Use your Cell Phone - Cell phones cannot be used while driving unless they are completely hands-free or being used as a GPS in the state of Illinois.
Slow down – Whether you see road construction workers or not, drive the posted speeds. It's the law and there are additional dangers in construction zones you may not be aware of.
Stay Back – Work zone crashes often result from tailgating, leave at least one car length between you and the vehicle in front of you, as sudden stops are common.
Watch out – Road workers are often in bright orange or fluorescent green and yellow to attract your attention, pay attention!
Move over – Emergency vehicles have limited access in work zones, so it's even more important you're aware of where they are and move over when they approach so that can get by.
Keep our Illinois roads safe, for yourself, your passengers, other drivers and our hard working road construction crews. Our personal injury attorneys specialize in auto accidents, construction accidents and other personal injury lawsuits and would be happy to speak with you about your situation. Contact our Chicago law firm to set up a free consultation.