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Work Zone Safety Is Everyone's Job - A Reminder

Approximately 1,000 people are killed in the country's work and construction zones every year. According to the Florida Department of Transportation, in 2007, there were 11,248 accidents in Florida work zones that resulted in 8,288 injuries and 105 fatalities.

Two recent construction zone accidents were: A woman from Palm Beach charged with DUI manslaughter for killing two construction zone workers, and a Plant City man hurt in a work zone crash apparently caused by his distracted driving (reaching for his medication).

As an accident attorney, I would like to remind everyone about the dangers posed to drivers and workers in construction zones.   Here are some facts from the Florida Department of Transportation:

• More than 90% of fatalities in construction zones are pedestrians and motorists.
• Over 50% of fatal accidents in work zones occur after dark.
• In nearly one quarter of construction zone accidents, alcohol or drugs were to blame.
• Speeding was the cause of the crash in over 50 % of the time.

Construction zones have reduced speed limits for safety reasons and it is the law to reduce your speed to the limit posted on the sign.  Because of the numerous deaths of construction workers caused by inattentive or distracted, or speeding motorists, the fines for speeding and traffic violations are doubled in a construction zone in Florida.

Also, in a construction zone, according to Florida Statutes, every driver must yield the right-of-way to a road worker, a flag person, or a construction/maintenance vehicle.

For more information on how you can do your part in making construction zones safer, please see:
Top 7 Tips for Construction Zone Safety