BURLINGTON, Vt. (WCAX) – As the weather warms, work zones will become more common throughout the green mountain state. Officials are asking you to be mindful while driving. According to data from the Agency of Transportation, last year there were 42 crashes in work zones — including one death.
Law enforcement liaison, Paul White, says in work zones road crews report speeding, distraction, and impatience. He says incidents in work zones are preventable — and says its vital that you pay attention to signs before you enter these areas.
“It’s really really early in the construction season, you’re only going to see it get busier more and more projects that were shut down for the winter are going to open back up. You’re going to see lane closures again. We put the warning signs up well in advance so you have time to slow down, time to merge, time to increase your following distance.” said White
Speeding fines are doubled in work zones under Vermont state law, so White says it’s important for drivers to pay attention and be aware of the jobs being done by road crew members.