Now that the summer months are over, many construction projects in Pennsylvania are nearing their final stages. Local contractors are trying their hardest to make sure these important roads are ready before the snow starts falling on the ground.
Even though summer has the highest motor vehicle fatality and accident rates out of all the seasons, construction workers performing road repairs should still remain cautious. Autumn comes with its own seasonal hazards for various drivers in Pennsylvania. There is a yearly average of 1,872 crashes and more than 20 fatalities in the state’s work zones, and not all of them are from the summer. Those involved with the industry should understand which drivers pose a threat for them as they continue road work into the colder seasons of the year.
High school motorists
The period between Memorial Day and Labor Day is typically known as “The 100 Deadliest Days of Summer.” One of the major reasons it has this title is because this is the most popular time for teenagers to get their licenses, which means they have one of the highest crash rates out of any age group around this time.
However, the early days of fall have the potential to be just as deadly. Most of these students are starting to drive to high school for the first time. They may have not dealt with too many construction work zones during their summer trips, but they might start encountering these obstacles on a daily basis during their school commutes. Students will be especially dangerous during the morning hours since they are still adjusting to their new sleep schedules and may be in a rush to get to classes.
Commercial drivers
Teenagers aren’t the only ones who have to adjust to new schedules. The decreasing amount of sunlight greatly affects workers in the transportation industry. They may start getting up earlier so they don’t have to spend as many hours in the dark. This is especially present once daylight savings happens in November.
The biggest challenge they face is fatigue from changing their schedules and the different times for sunrises and sunsets. There is a dramatic increase in auto accidents after daylight savings occurs, but you may encounter signs of drowsy driving prior to that day. Most of these signs aren’t that different from what you would see in a drunk driver.
As much as you want to finish up road work without any medical emergencies, you need to be prepared for the worst. If a reckless Pennsylvania motorist hurts you in the work zone, it is important to learn what options you have to acquire workers’ compensation.