The Houston accident lawyers at Denena & Points mention that the numbers show that 100 people died in Texas work zones in 2010. Most of these fatalities were among vehicle drivers and their passengers. Almost 3,000 work zone accidents occurred in the Houston area alone in that year, and almost 2 dozen people died in the wrecks.
TxDOT reminds us that around 1,000 work zones are active in Texas at any given time. Texas contains approximately 80,000 miles of highway. So you’ve probably noticed and been frustrated by the presence of highway work zones on occasion as you commuted to or from work or took road trips to visit distant friends or relatives. Usually nothing more than a few fragile cones and flimsy barriers separate workers from vehicles speeding by in nearby lanes. Warning signs to indicate roadwork up ahead don’t always give you much advance notice before you come up on the work zones.
April 23, 2012 through April 27, 2012 marks this year’s National Work Zone Awareness Week where highway safety experts want to remind you to drive smart and arrive alive at your destination. Harris County Sheriff Adrian Garcia reminds drivers that they aren’t the only ones at risk if they disregard necessary safety precautions in Texas work zones. The Sheriff says, “Construction workers are having to dodge flying debris, tires that come off, tread that comes off other vehicles, rocks that are being clipped by tires, loads that are being lost. They are having to dodge all of these dangers and they don’t need an idiot of a driver not paying attention.”
More than 60% of the 100 fatal work zone accidents in 2010 were blamed on driver distraction, drugs, and/or alcohol. Our Houston accident lawyers have had occasion to write about unfortunate Texas accidents where intoxicated drivers crashed into vehicles or people in work zones.
Charles McClelland, the Houston Police Chief, stated that there’s just not much room for error when drivers are operating powerful vehicles in the lane next to where workers must perform their tasks. Excessive speed, or a momentary distraction like changing your music or using a cell phone could lead to a fatal crash in an instant.
Traffic fines are doubled in Texas work zones, even if the erring driver caused no accident. So take heed. Slow down and pay careful attention to warnings, boundaries, torn up roadway, obstacles, workers, and other drivers as you approach and drive through Texas work zones. Our Houston accident lawyers emphasize that your safety precautions and consideration could save a life, possibly your own.
If you experience an accident and injuries despite your best precautions, download our Houston accident lawyers’ free book to learn the steps you need to take to make a successful accident injury claim.