Driver’s Manual | 47 HOW TO DRIVE SAFELY IN WORK ZONES Areas where road work takes place are danger- ous to drive in -- and to work in. That is why when  you speed in work zones, ticket fines double,  even when the workers or work vehicles are not  there. Expect to find a work zone wherever you  drive – you may have to decrease speed quickly  or even stop. Traffic lanes can shift or be com- pletely closed. Workers and work vehicles can be  on or near your driving lane. When you drive in a  work zone, make it safer because you know what  to do. Orange signs in the shape of diamonds -- “work  zone” warning signs – are often placed before  road construction projects and other work areas  that can change traffic flow. One sign can read:  “flagger ahead.” A flagger is a worker who  motions for you to stop, continue with caution or  change lanes. A flagger has the same authority as  a sign, which indicates you can receive a ticket for  disobeying their directions. Decrease speed! Be  Alert! Obey the signs! you and the vehicle in front of you. (See  “Allowing Yourself Space,” earlier in this  chapter) Keep a safe distance between your  vehicle and traffic barriers, trucks, construc- tion equipment and workers. Work Zone Tips: • Some signs can indicate a detour that allows  you to avoid the work zone. If you know  where a work zone is ahead, you should try  to use a different route. • As you enter a work zone, flashing signs or  signs with arrows or signs that warn “lane  closed ahead” mean you should merge  your vehicle into the correct lane when it is  safe. Do not speed to the end of the closed  lane and try to get into the other lane. If you  move to the correct lane at first notice, you  will drive in a calmer, more efficient, and safe manner.  • Decrease your speed when a sign indicates:  “Road Work 1,500 feet,” that means your car,  with a speed of 60 miles per hour, will get  there in 17 seconds. • The rear-end collision is the most com- mon crash in a work zone. To avoid being  involved in one, it helps to keep a braking  distance of two seconds or more between  • Some work zones are not stationary, like  when workers paint lines, patch roads or  mow. In these cases the size and/or location  of the work zones may change. As work pro- gresses, the work zone size may increase,  decrease, or move to different sections of  the roadway. Workers can be close even if  you do not see them immediately after the  warning signs. Obey the signs until you pass  the one that states the work zone has ended.