If you have plans to take a road trip or two this summer, there are a few things about summer travel that you’ll want to know about before you hit the road.
In many places, especially more northern locations, summer is when a big portion of the construction takes place, including road construction. This means that if you’re taking a road trip in a more northern part of the US, you’re very likely to run into some road construction. So to make sure you’re able to make it through these stretches of road safely, here are three tips for traveling during summer road construction.
Stick To The Posted Speed Limit
If the road trip that you’re taking is mainly about reaching your final destination, it makes sense to try to get the road trip part over as quickly as possible so that you can get to the good part of your trip. However, when you’re driving through road construction, the speed limit is likely to be reduced, causing it to take longer for you to get where you’re going.
While you might be tempted to just stay at the typical speed for this road, when driving during road construction, it’s important that you stick to the lower posted speed. Not only are these slower speeds usually safer for you and your vehicle, but they are also safer for the construction crews that are out there doing the construction work. And along with this, if you get pulled over for speeding in a construction zone, your ticket will likely be much higher than it otherwise would be.
Pay Closer Attention To Your Lane
When driving through a construction zone, the road that you’re on likely isn’t the one that drivers are typically driving on. In some cases, the road could be on what might normally be the shoulder, the median lanes, or the lane from oncoming traffic.
Because these lanes are likely being actively worked on or just temporary lanes, they might not be as safe as typical roads. And for this reason, you’ll want to pay extra close attention to the lane you’re driving in. Watch out for lane lines, abrupt lane edges, rumble strips, gravel, and more.
Increase Your Following Distance
Although you might be impatient to get through the road construction as quickly as you can, it’s very important that you keep a safe following distance when driving in construction zones.
Since the lanes and roads can make abrupt changes, you want to give yourself time to adjust when needed. And if there is gravel on the road, being too close to the car in front of you can increase your chances of having rocks thrown up and break your windshield.
If you’re going to be traveling on the roads this summer, consider using the tips mentioned above to help you stay safe when driving through construction zones.
