Traffic Safety
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Traffic Safety |
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Traffic
& Pedestrian Safety News Articles Don't Speed, Fines Double in Construction Zones Summer in Minnesota has arrived and with it comes road construction. Most projects are already in full swing. Many Apple Valley residents will notice signs in the construction areas indicating "Fines Double in Construction Zones". Residents also may have noticed reduced speed limits in construction areas, especially on freeways, although now they are frequently seen on county roads and even local street projects. The reduced speed limits are part of a nation-wide effort to reduce crashes in construction areas. In 2000, nationally, the crashes killed 1,093 individuals, 80 percent of them motorists. As the reduced speed limits are posted in work zones, some motorists assume they are in effect only when work is actually going on. This is not always true. A work zone speed limit is a regulatory speed zone used in short-term construction or maintenance zones and posted during continuous worker activity. The signs are installed at the beginning of a work shift and are then removed at the end. They are generally in place because of the close proximity of the work to the traveled lanes of the roadway. A temporary speed limit in a construction zone is established in long-term construction or maintenance projects where there are construction hazards to motorists. A reduced width road, construction adjacent to the traveled roadway, or two-way traffic on a freeway roadway are examples of these types of construction hazards. Signs are posted, and the speed zones are in effect 24 hours a day. If you see a speed limit sign in a construction or maintenance zone, assume it is legally placed and adhere to it whether workers are present or not. Occasionally, a work zone speed limit sign may appear to be up when it shouldn't, but almost always, the sign is legitimate, and adherence is required. A third type of speed control device, an advisory speed, is posted at a spot location in conjunction with warning signs and indicates to motorists that a reduced speed is necessary because of the potential hazard at the location. These signs have black letters on an orange background, and while not a regulatory speed limit, do require reduced speeds and careful driving. Motorists should remember that any speed limit that is posted is a maximum.
You can drive slower than the posted limit and should under circumstances
of bad weather, congested traffic, work near travel lanes, or any other
potential hazard. One thing is very clear; if you get a ticket in a work
zone, the fine will automatically double. With a large number of crashes
in construction zones, they have become well-patrolled areas with often
times an enforcement official hired specifically to monitor speeds and
motorist activities within the work zone. Content updated on: 03-May-2004
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