Klein & Carney Co., LLC
Klein & Carney Co., LLC

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The link between road construction and car wrecks

On Behalf of | Jan 23, 2019 | Motor Vehicle Accidents |

Road construction is quite common across Ohio and the United States, and avoiding these areas where delays and confusion are rampant is not always realistic or feasible. Road construction zones are common sites for car wrecks, however, so it is important that you stay particularly vigilant and attentive when making your way through them. At Klein & Carney Co., LLC, we recognize that, while construction, itself, often has a hand in work zone accidents, other drivers navigating their way through construction zones are often the cause of related car crashes.

Per the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Highway Administration, construction zone crashes are increasing in frequency across the nation, and so much so that the number of construction zone car wrecks jumped 42 percent between 2013 and 2015. About 96,626 construction zone crashes took place on the nation’s roadways in 2015, shining a spotlight on just how dangerous these zones can be for the average motorist.

In addition to having to maneuver around detours, construction vehicles and related equipment and obstacles, you also have to worry about whether other drivers making their way through work zones can effectively do the same. When those drivers are speeding or drinking alcohol while traveling through work zones, for example, they pose a significant threat to you and everyone else in the zones.

To put this in perspective, 669 people lost their lives in a total of 607 fatal construction zone crashes that occurred in 2014, and alcohol played a role in a quarter of these car wrecks. Speeding, meanwhile, was a contributing factor in 28 percent of that year’s fatal construction zone crashes, indicating a need for increased education about the dangers of these areas. You can find more about car crashes on our webpage.