Safe driving in construction zones | Ask an Officer

Cord Buckner
for the USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin
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Question: Can you provide a reminder about safe driving in construction zones? I’ve already seen some close calls.

Answer: Wisconsin averaged 1,933 crashes, 678 injuries, and nine fatalities per year between 2011 and 2015 in work zones across the state. Last year, there were 2,763 crashes in Wisconsin work zones, including 1,067 injuries and six fatalities.

These injuries and fatalities can be prevented if motorists remember to slow down, avoid
distractions, and increase their following distance when driving through a construction zone. Rear end collisions, frequently caused by speeding, inattentive driving, and
following too closely, are the most common type of crashes in construction zones.

When driving in work zones, it helps to:

  1. Slow down: A car traveling 60 miles per hour travels 88 feet per second, and the faster you go, the longer it takes to stop.
  2. Know the signs: Merge early into appropriate lanes, allow for ample space between vehicles, and be patient. Orange, diamond-shaped signs usually give you ample warning of lane closings, construction areas, flaggers, and other workers ahead.
  3. Focus only on driving: When entering the work zone, be cautious, alert, and aware of the surroundings. A good way to stay focused is to eliminate any distractions, not only the cell phone, but also other activity, such as eating, drinking, talking, and adjusting the radio or other internal controls.

Additional information on work zone safety is available at


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