Roadway Work Zones are Dangerous for Drivers
$27 billion of the federal economic stimulus package has been set aside for Highway construction. Large states like Florida will get their fare share. There is no doubt the money will fund a much needed increase in new roads as well as repairs to old ones. Unfortunately, The Federal Highway Administration has predicted the increase in Highway construction will also cause an increase in work zone related driver personal injuries and death. According to an article written by Mike McIntire and published in the New York Times, many of these work zone car accidents, motorcycle accidents, and truck accidents might have been avoided if better safety measures were utilized by the construction companies involved. The article does an excellent job of detailing the various types of hazards that pose a risk to drivers including failures to deploy warning signs, improper traffic lane markings, barriers placed in the wrong position, and drop offs between lanes. It also describes a lack of Uniform National Safety Standards that would definitely save lives if they were put into place.
Personal injury lawsuits brought in the wake of highway and roadway work zone tragedies hold wrongdoers accountable, clarify the cause of the accidents, and compensate victims. They also play a role in encouraging contractors to implement safety measures so they can avoid personal injury lawsuits in the future.
