Work Zone Dangers

July 25, 2001--

Across the country and here in Utah, motorists put the pedal to the metal to dodge construction delays.

A new national report signals a growing trend of dangerous driving in highway work zones.

A record number of Americans are being killed as motorists speed through construction. They're frustrated and confused by ever-increasing miles of narrow lanes and orange cones.

More Info Work Zone Fatalities Year By Year Details From AP Past Stories Road Construction Projects May 2001 Links Utah Dept. of Transportation House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials Associated General Contractors American Traffic Safety Services Association The Road Information Program National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

In recent years, increased federal highway spending fueled a boom in road construction. That money helped rebuild I-15.

But, it also fueled frustration and aggressive driving.

Orange cones, single or narrow lanes, and reduced speed limits have ruled our roads since 1997.

And that's not only in Utah.

Federal highway spending rose 18 percent from 1997 to 1999.

During the same period, the number of deadly crashes in construciton zones rose 25 percent--a total of nearly 900 deaths.

In 1999, nine people died in crashes in Utah construction zones.

Nile Easton/UDOT: PEOPLE NEED TO BE ALERT, THEY NEED TO WATCH OUR SIGNS, THEY NEED TO SLOW DOWN WHEN THEY ENTER THOSE KIND OF AREAS.

Two years ago, the state doubled the fines, but didn't cut the speeds.

Jed Boal/Eyewitness News: THE UTAH HIGHWAY PATROL SAYS THAT SPEEDING IN CONSTRUCTION ZONES HAS GOTTEN OUT OF HAND. STATE TROOPERS THINK MOTORISTS HAVE GROWN NUMB TO THE SAFETY CONCERNS AND IGNORE THE SPEED LIMITS BECAUSE THEY THINK DEFENSE DRIVING WASTES TOO MUCH TIME.

Maj. Claron Brenchley/Utah Highway Patrol: I STOPPED A FELLOW GOING 90 MILES PER HOUR IN WEBER COUNTY.

Major Claron Brenchley says that driver was upset and expressed a common attitude.

Maj. Claron Brenchley/Utah Highway Patrol: HIS COMMENT WAS, 'IN A FEW MINUTES, I'M GOING TO ENTER A CONSTRUCTION ZONE AND I'LL BE STOPPED AND GOING 10-15 MILES AN HOUR, SO I'M MAKING TIME WHERE I CAN.'"

Often, off-duty troopers will sit in the zones with flashing lights, and that seems to help.

Maj. Claron Brenchley/Utah Highway Patrol: WE CAN'T DO IT STRICTLY FROM ENFORCEMENT, WE NEED COMPLIANCE FROM THE PUBLIC.

The advice from UDOT?

Plan ahead, leave early, and don't let the construction get to you.

Nile Easton/UDOT: GETTING TO YOUR DESTINATION SAFELY IS A LOT BETTER THAN THE ALTERNATIVE OF TRYING TO RUSH THROUGH THOSE ZONES, NOT GETTING TO YOUR DESTINATION.

The I-15 project however, was a safe one.

Four people died during the four-year-construction. Before construction began, four people died each year along this stretch of road.

U-DOT believes public information campaigns do make a difference.