Construction Zones

[snobuilder]

I know there was a topic about the WI 70 mph speed limit a while back, but what about work speed zones?....Does anyone even come close to respecting them anymore?
Not from what I have seen lately. It's one thing to do 10 over on a Sunday when no one is working but how about 20 to 30 over like I witnessed coming though Milw. 8 AM on Friday with workers clearly present 15' away.
Made me want to beat someone when they think their 2 minutes saved (if that!) is worth more than a life.

 

[LoveMyDobe]

I was a flagger for road construction years past, and I've seen it all. I always slow down now. We had a flagger get hit and she lost both her legs. Please respect these workers. I love being stopped by a flagger for traffic, gives me time to remember those 12hr days on my feet and talking to people who were first in line.

 

[eao]

I was stopped in a work zone once and a lady behind me was not paying attention and slammed in the rear of my truck going about 25-35 mph. And to add insult to injury, the police officer told me she would be getting several tickets and being in work zone all the fines were doubled. She hit my receiver hitch dead on with the center of her grill, all plastic. It was a Furd Taurus.

 

[HIGHLANDER]

I agree about the speed limit through construction zones...even worse when the line is solid and people are still weaving in and out of traffic doing 70...if I see someone coming up hot in my mirror to pass, I sometimes whip the trailer back and forth a little to slow them down and put a little scare into them....ive even been flipped off before and don't really care....so you racers better whatch out! you may be next!!!!

 

[sweeperguy]

What really gets me is people following dump trucks that turn into the work zone through the cones. Seems obvious to me if a truck slows way down and turns hard to get in between cones/ why follow them. Maybe its me cuz I'm out there working, but lane closures are usually set up so if construction lanes move over its generally gradually sliding over. Its not like a slalom course hard sharp turns between cones.

 

[Grant Hoar]

Crazy how people drive through construction zones in Illinois. I used to work construction, and still have friends and coworkers who could be on the other side of the concrete barrier wall.

About once a week i have a night meeting to attend, and when going home I have to get on I-90 in Schaumburg and drive about 25 miles west to Huntley, 90% of which is currently a construction zone. I have done this several times; get on the highway and set the cruise control at 10 over the lowered speed limit. Yeah, I know I am speeding, but any slower and I actually don't feel safe.

I then count how many vehicles pass me, and how many I pass in that trip. On an average trip about 50 vehicles will pass me, and I will pass 2. So, 10 over the limit and I am almost always the slowest guy on the road.

Get some troopers out there, write tickets to everybody, and you could get some of these major highway construction projects built for free - just pay for them with the ticket revenue!

 

[LoveMyDobe]

What really gets me is people following dump trucks that turn into the work zone through the cones. Seems obvious to me if a truck slows way down and turns hard to get in between cones/ why follow them. Maybe its me cuz I'm out there working, but lane closures are usually set up so if construction lanes move over its generally gradually sliding over. Its not like a slalom course hard sharp turns between cones.

Reminds me the day an elderly lady followed the paver and sunk her car in the fresh mud(concrete)

 

[timo]

What really gets me is people following dump trucks that turn into the work zone through the cones. Seems obvious to me if a truck slows way down and turns hard to get in between cones/ why follow them. Maybe its me cuz I'm out there working, but lane closures are usually set up so if construction lanes move over its generally gradually sliding over. Its not like a slalom course hard sharp turns between cones.

any of you ever drive thru Chicago work zones. i'll be doing 10 over in a work zone driving past a fines double in work zone sign and some FIB in a beamer will blow by me must be doing 30 over. see it all the time.

- - - Updated - - -

I agree about the speed limit through construction zones...even worse when the line is solid and people are still weaving in and out of traffic doing 70...if I see someone coming up hot in my mirror to pass, I sometimes whip the trailer back and forth a little to slow them down and put a little scare into them....ive even been flipped off before and don't really care....so you racers better whatch out! you may be next!!!!

ohh noo...

 

[machzdoo]

I have also had people pass me in the fire truck when I had the lights and siren on responding to a fire.

 

[jetrep]

Crazy how people drive through construction zones in Illinois. I used to work construction, and still have friends and coworkers who could be on the other side of the concrete barrier wall.

About once a week i have a night meeting to attend, and when going home I have to get on I-90 in Schaumburg and drive about 25 miles west to Huntley, 90% of which is currently a construction zone. I have done this several times; get on the highway and set the cruise control at 10 over the lowered speed limit. Yeah, I know I am speeding, but any slower and I actually don't feel safe.

I then count how many vehicles pass me, and how many I pass in that trip. On an average trip about 50 vehicles will pass me, and I will pass 2. So, 10 over the limit and I am almost always the slowest guy on the road.

Get some troopers out there, write tickets to everybody, and you could get some of these major highway construction projects built for free - just pay for them with the ticket revenue!

I think (some) people would respect work zone speed limits more if they only applied when workers are present.

I love how you want to ticket the speeders when you're a speeder yourself. Your arbitrary ten over is okay but anybody going faster than you is a madman worthy of penalty.

 

[Grant Hoar]

Jetrep;

Work zone speed limits also apply when workers are not present due to narrower traffic lanes, multiple merges and lane transitions, etc. Most motorists don't know (or understand) that speeding through construction zones is just as dangerous for the motorists as for the workers.

"Yeah, I know I am speeding, but any slower and I actually don't feel safe" - think you missed that part. I would have no problem going the speed limit, and would prefer to. At 10 over the posted 45, however, there were people passing me 20 to 30 mph faster than me - I spend half the trip looking in the rear view mirror watching for the other boneheads so I don't get rear-ended. Drive I-90 at night at the posted construction speed limit and tell me how comfortable you feel, and frankly, anyone in Illinois who ever says they don't speed in a construction zone is lying.

Also "write tickets to everybody", I didn't say write tickets to everybody but me.

 

[snobuilder]

I think (some) people would respect work zone speed limits more if they only applied when workers are present.

I love how you want to ticket the speeders when you're a speeder yourself. Your arbitrary ten over is okay but anybody going faster than you is a madman worthy of penalty.

jetrep , This was 8 AM ON A FRIDAY MORNING WITH WORKERS PRESENT!!!

Unfortunately, jetrep is in the majority.

 

[old abe]

Hey snowbuilder, you would be surprised what a Big truck can due with those kind people!

 

[snobuilder]

Hey snowbuilder, you would be surprised what a Big truck can due with those kind people!

Dang, old abe....this is a 8-10 mile long intense construction zone at best....the busiest exchange in the entire state of WI....95% a the folks going through it do it every day....and them who don't drive it everyday, probly show way more caution.

 

[sweeperguy]

Jetrep;

Work zone speed limits also apply when workers are not present due to narrower traffic lanes, multiple merges and lane transitions, etc. Most motorists don't know (or understand) that speeding through construction zones is just as dangerous for the motorists as for the workers.

"Yeah, I know I am speeding, but any slower and I actually don't feel safe" - think you missed that part. I would have no problem going the speed limit, and would prefer to. At 10 over the posted 45, however, there were people passing me 20 to 30 mph faster than me - I spend half the trip looking in the rear view mirror watching for the other boneheads so I don't get rear-ended. Drive I-90 at night at the posted construction speed limit and tell me how comfortable you feel, and frankly, anyone in Illinois who ever says they don't speed in a construction zone is lying.

Also "write tickets to everybody", I didn't say write tickets to everybody but me.

The chances of someone rear ending you is pretty slim. If you watched in front of you instead of in your rear view mirrors maybe you'd be more comfortable driving the speed limit.

 

[snobuilder]

The chances of someone rear ending you is pretty slim. If you watched in front of you instead of in your rear view mirrors maybe you'd be more comfortable driving the speed limit.

I was going 5-7 over the 50 when 3 yahoos past me nascar style and deliberately cut in front of me to show me who was boss....they all had clear lanes in front of them.
There were workmen on both sides of the road.....I take back the Nascar comment....pro drivers show more respect for their fellow drivers.

as far as watching your mirrors, if you don't, the idiots going 20-30 over magically appear out of no where when you are planning your lane change.

I stay right when not passing but some of the self absorbed idiots out there are too impatient to let you move right....

 

[old abe]

Dang, old abe....this is a 8-10 mile long intense construction zone at best....the busiest exchange in the entire state of WI....95% a the folks going through it do it every day....and them who don't drive it everyday, probly show way more caution.

I know what your saying snowbuilder. I have seen it all over the last 45 plus years. Problem is it just keeps getting worse. Last 15 something else. It's all hoo raa for me, and to **** with you attitudes. Had one idiot try to pass on the left shoulder of a one lane construction zone, and plowed the orange water barrels. Just came up on me too fast to get it slowed down.

 

[Grant Hoar]

Sweeperguy,

How about this - I will drive on highways like I choose, watching in all directions and driving defensively (kind of like I do on snowmobile trails). You can drive however you like, not looking in your rear view mirror.

Hard to believe I am saying this, but I am agreeing with snobuilder on this one

If you have ever been on one of our highways when the crotch rocket racers pass you doing about 120, you will learn to use your rear view mirros. Ever been whitelined, which happens to be illegal? Ever been doing 55 mph on a crowded interstate, and been passed by a semi on the right shoulder? (I got that driver fired, by the way) All have happened to me.

For your sake I hope they drive in the Twin Cities area better than they do here in CHicago

 

[sweeperguy]

Hey that works for me.
And I do use my mirrors as I've been taught to. For changing lanes and watching for emergency vehicles. If you pass safely and check mirrors properly when doing so, vehicles do not "magically appear out of nowhere"

Worrying about what vehicles behind you are doing, or speeding in construction zones, because everyone else is, is NOT defensive driving.

 

[old abe]

I don't agree with sweeperguy. Many accidents in construction zones that result in bad injuries, and death, are rear ended. Several very bad accidents due to this in my area last year. 2 with deaths of those who were rammed from the rear! My self prefer to slow down early, rather than too late. Being 1 or 2 places in line further back will not hurt myself or anyone else, including those working there!!!