The New York metropolitan area has more than its fair share of construction. While this can significantly slow commute times, it can also change traffic patterns in a way that creates dangerous driving conditions. If you’re not careful, you might cause a serious accident or be injured in a construction zone wreck.
To reduce the risk of being involved in a construction zone accident, we want to look at how construction zones change driving expectations and what you can do to stay safe when navigating these areas of New York. So, let’s take a closer look.
How construction zones change traffic patterns
There are a lot of ways that construction zones can change the flow of traffic and create hazardous driving conditions. This includes:
- Speed changes: The speed limit in construction zones is often drastically reduced. Those who don’t abide by these slower speed limits can be at an increased risk of causing an accident by hitting cones, barrels, or rear-ending slower traffic in front of them.
- Reduced number of lanes: Several construction zones reduce the number of lanes in which you can drive. When a driver fails to recognize this, they may be forced to veer into the only open lane, thereby slamming into the car next to them.
- Narrow lanes: In some construction zones, road lanes are narrowed, requiring extra care to navigate. Those who drive too fast in these narrow lanes, are distracted, or are otherwise acting negligently can hit cars in the lane next to them or hit a retaining wall that causes them to veer into traffic.
- Changed path: Sometimes the expected path of a road changes during construction. Those who aren’t paying attention can be taken by surprise and cross over into another lane, oftentimes resulting in a serious crash.
- Manual traffic signals: Construction workers and police officers often override traffic signals and signs near construction zones. Those who aren’t paying attention can disobey these manual traffic signals. This can result in them driving into cross traffic or driving head-on into another vehicle.
Although a construction zone can be dangerous, there are ways to drive defensively and keep yourself safe. To protect yourself as much as possible, be sure to do the following when you’re in a construction zone:
- Slow down so that you’re able to see all construction workers and construction signs.
- When a lane is closed ahead, move into the open lane early so that you don’t have to contend with moving over when there’s a lot of traffic.
- Maintain an appropriate amount of distance between yourself and the vehicle in front of you.
- Don’t get distracted by the construction being conducted or your phone.
If you can follow these tips, you’ll hopefully be able to keep yourself safe and avoid a serious construction accident.
What should you do if you’re injured in a construction accident?
If you’re injured in a car accident in a construction zone, then you should consider taking legal action. If you’re successful in doing so, then you might be able to recover compensation for the extensive damages that you’ve suffered, including your medical expenses, rehabilitation costs, and lost wages. You might also be able to recover money for your pain and suffering and lost enjoyment of life.