Why is everyone in such a big hurry to get hurt, to hurt others – or worse?

National Work Zone Awareness Week has come and gone without the motoring public being much aware of it. As a driver I continually observe a general recklessness of many of my fellow motorists in these zones. Therefore, I feel the need to take this time and space and mention a few unpleasantries that result from this behavior.

In 2001, the latest year for which this information is available, 1,079 people were killed and more than 40,000 people were injured in work zone-related crashes. At first glance one might think that this makes highway construction and repair one of the most dangerous jobs in the country, but think again: Four out of five of those killed and injured were motorists.

In a recent survey 80 percent of drivers said they slowed down when they entered work zones. However, when these same drivers were clocked on radar, none of them actually did. This partly explains why rear-end crashes (running into the rear of a slowing or stopping vehicle) are the most common kind of work zone crash.

Let’s look at a few more disturbing statistics. In 2001:

• more than half of all fatal work zone crashes occurred during the day;

• more than two times as many fatal work zone crashes occurred on weekdays as on weekends and most often in the summer and the fall;

• the number of fatal work zone crashes occurring on rural interstates was almost 30 percent greater than the number of fatal crashes occurring on urban interstates (159 compared with 124);

• the majority of fatal work zone crashes for all vehicles occurred on roads with speed limits of 55 miles an hour or greater (57 percent and 70 percent, respectively).

Why is everyone in such a big hurry to get hurt, to hurt others – or worse?

It takes less than an additional minute to travel through a 2-mile-long work zone at 45 mph than at 65 mph. Fifty-two seconds, to be precise. At 60 mph, a vehicle travels 88 feet per second. In the 3/4 second it takes to put your foot on the brake, you’ve gone 66 feet …180-220 before the car stops.

In other words, if you speed, by the time you see a problem, you’re probably out of luck.

Massachusetts and Connecticut regularly station state police in work zones. However, with state budgets tightening up, I suspect these states, like Maine, will soon refrain from this expensive practice. If the carnage is to decrease, we all must do what we can.

For example:

• Heed the warning signs and symbols.

• Merge as soon as possible. Motorists can help maintain traffic flow and posted speeds by moving to the appropriate lane at first notice of an approaching work zone.

• Slow down when the signs say to. A car traveling 60 mph travels 88 feet per second. If you see a sign that says “Road Work 1500 feet,” you’ll be in that construction zone in 17 seconds.

• Stay alert and give full attention to the roadway.

• Pay close attention to signs and work zone flaggers.

• Turn on headlights so workers and other drivers can see your vehicle.

• Do not tailgate.

• Do not speed. Slow down to the posted speed limits.

• Keep up with the traffic flow.

• Do not change lanes in work zones.

• Minimize distractions in vehicles. Avoid changing radio stations and using mobile phones in work zones.

• Expect the unexpected. Keep an eye on workers and their equipment.

• Be patient. Remember work zones are necessary to improve roads and make them safer.

We shouldn’t need a special, government mandated “Awareness Week” to educate us to the dangers associated with driving on our highways, nor should we need a list of dos and don’ts posted on our windshields.

However, we do need to remember that driving is not a time for “spacing out” or letting oneself be distracted. Driving is a full-time job, whether we get paid for doing it.

As drivers we accept responsibility for our actions, so let’s open our eyes, pay attention and drive as though our lives depended on it. They do.

Guy Bourrie has been hauling on the highways for 20 years. He lives in Washington, Maine, and can be reached at [email protected].