Work Zone Safety

A work zone is any type of road work that may impede traffic conditions. Many work zones involve lane closures. They may also be on the shoulder or in the median. Moving work zones such as sweepers or snowplows are also quite common.

There are a number of events that make up a work zone. They can be long term projects or short term actions. A work zone can also exist at anytime of year. The common theme among work zones is the color orange. Work zone materials such as cones, barrels, signs, large vehicles, or vests give you an indication that you are either approaching a work zone or in a work zone.

Look for orange signs, often found on the right side of the road, that tell you where the road work is located. Many work zones also have signs that alert you to reductions in speed while approaching a work zone. Remember that in the state of Minnesota, a double fine is issued if you are caught speeding in a work zone. This law was created to better protect the workers AND motorists.

There are usually signs that direct motorists through the work zone safely. Look for signs that tell you which lane(s) are closed and when there are other unusual events such as, uneven pavement or no shoulder.

The most common moving work zones are snowplows. There are many things to remember when approaching a snowplow:

Stay behind the snowplow at least 300-500 feet. If you follow to closely to a snowplow when it is sanding or salting the roadway, your vehicle may get pelted with sand and salt.
Never pass a snowplow. Snowplows create artificial snow clouds that may be very dangerous because of various debris that is found in them. It is also difficult to determine which side the plow is down. If your vehicle strikes the plow, it may cause serious damage to you and/or your vehicle.
Never drive between snowplows. When you see more than one snowplow together it creates an opportunity to clear the roadway faster and safer. But your chances of being in a crash with a snowplow is greatly increased when trying to drive between these teams of snowplows. Remember that each loaded snowplow weighs 50,000 pounds. An average vehicle weighs 3,000 pounds. Do not tempt fate.
Always yield to snowplows. The easiest way to convince yourself to yield to a snowplow is the fact that driving conditions behind a snowplow are much better than conditions ahead of it.

There are also many other types of moving work zones. Sweepers and large trucks that help in filling potholes are common in the spring and summer.

There is a lot of work that is done off of the roadway. Guardrail repair, litter pickup, and drainage repair are just a few examples. Make sure you are always aware of what is going on around you. Stay alert and prepare to stop when approaching any kind of work being done on or off the roadway. Whenever anything unusual is happening off the roadway there is typically a gawker slowdown. When approaching a work zone off of the roadway, continue at the posted speed and fight off the urge to slow down and look. This will help in keeping the roadway moving.

Work Zone Facts