WHAT EVERY DRIVER SHOULD KNOW ABOUT HIGHWAY CONSTRUCTION ZONES
Unsafe driving in work zones is taken very seriously in the state of Florida. The Florida Department of Transportation reported that in 2016 Florida had one of the highest rates of construction zone fatalities in the entire country. There were workers present in more than a third of the incidents and almost half of the accidents involved serious injuries. Because this kind of crash can be so costly in personal injuries and fatalities, double fines are imposed on offenders caught violating the law in work zones when construction personnel are present.
Construction zones present especially complicated challenges for drivers and law enforcement. Impatient drivers can be in a hurry to navigate around temporary barriers, workers, vehicles and oversize pieces of equipment. Add to the frustration that while busy highways have to remain open to traffic, construction can last for months, or, in some cases, a year or more, with the likelihood of crashes increasing over time.
WHAT ARE SOME OF THE UNSAFE PRACTICES COMMITTED BY DRIVERS IN WORK ZONES?
- Failure to obey reduced speed limit signs
- Last minute merging, without proper signalling, when lanes run out
- Being distracted by activities such as talking on a cell phone, conversing with passengers or texting
- Following other vehicles too closely
- Not slowing down and exercising caution when passing an emergency or work vehicle stopped on the side of the road
Fines range from $50 to $500 for speeding in a work zone. Points could also be added to your driving record. Prior offenses and the severity of the situation, such as whether or not DUI , injuries or fatalities are involved, can determine if you could face higher fines, jail time or other penalties. A mandatory hearing, license suspension and completion of a driver improvement course are other possibilities, depending on the charges.
If you’ve received a citation for a construction zone violation, an experienced traffic ticket lawyer could help you reduce the charges or possibly get your case dismissed entirely. Seeking legal advice is especially important if you have prior offenses on your driving record.
Also read What You Need to Know About Careless Driving in Florida And How to Handle It
Call the Ticket Clinic today for your free consultation or hire us online . Our lawyers are experienced in the Florida Traffic Court system and have handled over 3,000,000 cases nationwide since 1987.
