Encountering road construction when traveling across Kentucky may be annoying. However, if you are able to navigate the work zone and lose nothing more than time, consider yourself lucky. Crashes are becoming much more common in Kentucky’s work zones, and the number of people dying in work zone car wrecks in the state rose 20% in 2019.
According to the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet, state safety advocates are exploring new methods of reducing work zone car crashes and enhancing safety for citizens traveling through these areas.
Kentucky work zone crash statistics
In 2019, a total of 1,251 crashes took place in the state’s work zones. Also, eight people lost their lives in work zone car crashes in 2019, rising from three such deaths in 2018. While two of the road fatalities in 2019 involved highway workers, the remaining six deaths involved motorists, bicyclists or pedestrians trying to navigate the construction.
Kentucky work zone safety tips
Rear-end collisions are the most common type of crash seen in Kentucky work zones. There are certain steps you may take to help prevent someone from striking you from behind, such as tapping your brakes a few times when coming to a stop. Make sure, too, to always slow down, avoid distraction and watch out for highway workers, cyclists or pedestrians who may also be present in these areas.
Part of the reason Kentucky’s work zones are so dangerous is because the hazards they create are numerous. Construction-related hazards, such as unfamiliar traffic patterns, potholes and visual obstructions, all create crash risks. So, too, do other drivers who speed or otherwise exercise negligence when making their way through these areas.