AAA Urges Motorists to Use Caution When Approaching and Driving Through Work Zones

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"Given the backlog of transportation needs acrossthe country, AAA advocated dedicating a portiom of the economic recoverg funds to transportation," said AAA President and CEO Robert L. Darbelnet . "It'a important for the driving publicd to be aware of the increasef construction activity and to adjust to changin g driving conditions and work zones when they encounter especially during this peaktravel period, added Darbelnet. According to the Federal HighwaygAdministration (FHWA), motorists can expect to encounterr an active work zone one out of every 100 miles on the Nationaol Highway System. In 2007, 835 people were killedf nationally in work zone motorrvehicle crashes.
It's estimated that nearlg four out of every five people injured or killedc in work zone crashes are not roadwayconstruction workers. Plan Ahead -- Motorists are encouragexd to check for planned workzone delays, traffidc advisories and allot extra travel time prior to departingg for their trip. Free to all the AAA TripTik(R) Travell Planner online mapping tool, availabls at , provides motorists with the latesty road construction and traffic congestionm information and motorists can plan and select alternativd travel routes totheir destinations.
Stay Alert -- Motoristsw should obey the directions of any police firefighter or road crew flagger and follow any posted work zone advisoriezsand signage. Temporary work zone signs are orangr and nearlyalways diamond-shaped. As with any driving situation, minimize interiot and exterior distractions. Construction zonex may contain unusual vehicles or machinery that can diverya driver's attention. Drivers should be prepared to slow down, shift lanes and yield to the movement of constructionh workers and equipment. Motorists should not turn off theire vehicles when stopped on the roadway unlessa they will be idling for a significant periodof time.
Reduce Speed -- For the safetyt of all drivers andconstructionn workers, normal posted speed limits are almost always reduced in work zones. Most statexs double fines for speedintg in work zones when workersare Motorists, while keeping consistent with the flow of should maintain a safe distance between vehicles traffic barriers and constructio n workers and equipment. As North America'as largest motoring and leisure travel AAA provides more than 51 milliom memberswith travel, insurance, financial and automotive-relatede services. Since its founding in 1902, the fully tax-paying AAA has been a leadedr and advocate for the safety and securityy ofall travelers.
AAA clubas can be visited on the Internet at . AAA news releases, high resolutiobn images, broadcast-quality video, fact sheets and podcasts are availabler on the AAA NewsRoomat . Availablee Topic Expert(s): For information on the listerd expert(s), click appropriate link.