Up north, roadwork is done primarily in the spring and summer months, but in south Florida it’s a year round project. As we all know, it never seems to end! Everyone needs to be more careful in work zones, for our safety, the worker’s safety, and for other drivers as well.
Motorcycles are particularly vulnerable to uneven surfaces and sudden, unfamiliar detours. When roads are designed, they are usually planned with plenty of space to prepare for curves and changes in roadway elevations. When road crews are laying out temporary detours, there is often not such meticulous planning, and all drivers are startled by big orange signs.
Experienced motorcyclists know that the surface of a roadway is critical to how a bike handles, effects stopping distances, and how a sudden turn can turn into a slide along the pavement.
Florida Motorcycle Accident Attorney
According to the Federal Highway Administration, an average of 700 motorists die each year in approximately 70,000 work zone crashes. This accounts for about 2 percent of all traffic fatalities in a given year. Of those fatalities, around 10 percent are motorcyclists.
While efforts are made to protect workers in construction zones and blame is often placed on the driver in a work zone motorcycle crash, seven times as many drivers die in these accidents as highway workers. Even when motorists obey warning signs, these zones present hazards that endanger drivers, particularly drivers of motorcycles.
Often, work zones are not properly marked with caution signs, and the construction companies are partially responsible for serious accidents.
Here are some of the roadwork hazards that are particularly dangerous for motorcycles:
- Steel plates used to cover holes are extremely slippery, especially after and during rain.
- Gravel surfaces are hazardous during sudden stops, motorcycle tires can’d skid to a stop.
- Uneven lanes will sometimes cause a severe wobble in the from wheel of a motorcycle, which may initiate a loss of control.
There are, of course, many other hazards present in roadwork zones, so as the big orange signs say: SLOW DOWN.
It’s also important to remember this: While you might be going slow, and being very alert, other drivers probably aren’t and in a battle between a car and a motorcycle, it’s usually the bike that loses.
We have represented many victims involved in serious motorcycle accidents, and out primary goal is to protect our client’s rights to obtain compensation for their pain, suffering, and injuries. Call us at 954-356-0006 if you have questions, we are here to help.
Motorcycle Safety Tips from the National Safety Council
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