Page 8
The INDEPENDENT, April 2,1997
Work Zone safety review
In 1995 the Oregon Legis
lature enacted a Work Zone
Safety Bill that doubles the
fines for traffic infractions and
violations in a Construction or
Work Zone. This includes
speeding, reckless driving
and other moving violations.
The double fines are applica
ble not only during active con
struction, but 24 hours a day.
Work stoppage does not de
crease the need for caution
because of construction haz
ards.
With all of the highway
construction underway in
northwest Oregon, this is a
good time to review the rea
sons for the legislative action.
Let’s look first at possible fi
nancial impacts.
Work Zone courtesy re
sults in fewer collisions. One
collision can be very costly for
a driver, with higher insurance
premiums, medical costs and
property damage. One crash
can also result in legal fees
due to driver negligence and
liability.
With proper merging and
driver attentiveness, you can
save money by reducing vehi
cle wear and tear. Improved
highways reduce the wear
and tear on your vehicle from
potholes. Fewer delays can
save contractor time and,
therefore, save taxpayer
money.
Work Zone fines can add
up, too. Bail amounts that can
be assigned range from $97
for a Class D Misdemeanor to
$2153 for a Class C Felony
such as Driving While Sus
pended.
Obviously, Work Zone
courtesy saves money. Now,
let’s take a look at safety is
sues.
We’ve all seen them...dri
vers in such a hurry that they
pass on the right, speed and
tailgate. In a Work Zone,
these actions can be deadly.
Imagine for a moment that
you are entering a work zone.
You see the orange signs, the
barrels and the cones...but
you’re in a hurry. Rather than
merge as soon as possible,
you speed along until the last
possible moment, then dart
into the merged flow of traffic.
Your actions have gained you
seconds. But, by merging at
the last minute, you force an
other driver to hit the brakes.
As you continue on, you real
ize that the driver you cut off
has been involved in a wreck.
When he applied the brakes,
he lost control and struck a
construction worker. The sec
onds you “saved” have now
cost a life.
In 1994 there were 19 lives
lost in construction zones
crashes in Oregon, two of
them were Construction Zone
workers. Each of these peo
ple left behind families who
grieved at the loss of life from
a preventable crash.
You can help prevent such
needless tragedy by being
courteous, patient and atten
tive to all signs and flaggers.
Oregon Department of Trans
portation tries to keep the
public informed of any major
detours, delays or changes.
Watch for these warnings in
newspapers and on television
news shows.
Work Zone courtesy not
only saves money, it saves
lives. It is worth the effort.
Dylan Taylor enjoyed the Easter Egg Hunt at Anderson park, but he forgot about the egg
when he decided the camera was more interesting. With Dylan is his mom, Angie Taylor.
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