It is road construction season across the United States, and the Sacramento area is no exception. The number of accidents is rising between freeway construction, road repairs, bridge repairs, and neighborhood repaving projects. Motorists are at risk as they navigate signs, barrels, and new lane changes. Road workers are also in greater danger as they build, repair, and maintain the country’s complex road system.
According to the United States Department of Transportation Federal Highway Administration, there were 514 fatal motor vehicle crashes and 576 fatalities in 2010. That is equivalent to one work zone fatality every 15 hours!
In Sacramento, I-80 has been under construction for over a year, and it’s not anticipated to be complete until 2016. For this $133 million project, Caltrans is virtually rebuilding the freeway, replacing lanes, adding carpool lanes, and adding new lanes to and from ramps. With these significant changes come significantly more crashes. There has been nearly one crash a day since the project began. That is more than double the average crash numbers for that area of the freeway.
Some crashes occur because out-of-town motorists must familiarize themselves with the new lane changes and only use the freeway to travel through Sacramento on their way to Lake Tahoe or Reno. While regular commuters should have an advantage and better understand the road system, the CHP reports that most accidents are rear-enders. That means most accidents occurred because of inattention to the road and its conditions.
According to Caltrans safety official Ed Yarbrough:
“Crashes typically increase in freeway work zones despite efforts to design them safely. That is why officials conduct safety campaigns across the state, urging drivers to “slow for the cone zone” and why traffic citation amounts are often increased in construction areas. The speed limit in the I-80 zone has been reduced to 55 miles per hour.” – www.sacbee.com
While some accidents are unavoidable, drivers who take their time and pay attention are less likely to be involved in an accident in a work zone. If you have been injured in a motor vehicle accident in a work zone, our experienced Sacramento car accident attorneys can help you. At Eason & Tambornini, A Law Corporation, we want to make sure you understand your rights as a driver and are compensated for your injuries. Call us today for a free consultation.
