Construction season is approaching, which means crews will soon be out fixing and building roads and bridges.

Drivers have one of the biggest roles in keeping work zones safe for construction crews, the Wisconsin State Patrol advises.

WSP’s Law of the Month for April highlights work zone safety, encouraging drivers to help create a safe space for crews who work on and alongside the road.

“Construction crews and county highway personnel often work within feet of traffic,” WSP Superintendent Tim Carnahan said in a news release. “These people need to be able to rely on drivers to do their part to ensure a safe work zone. The Wisconsin State Patrol is working to combat unsafe driving in work zones with the help of troopers on the road and overhead with our Air Support Unit. Last year, we issued over 7,000 citations and warnings for traffic law violations in work zones.”

Speeding, following too closely and distracted driving cause most work zone crashes. These crashes are preventable. According to preliminary data for Wisconsin, the state had 2,174 work zone crashes in 2024, resulting in 10 fatalities and 779 injuries. On average, that is one work zone crash every three hours.

Work zone safety tips

Driving safely and slowly through work zones will protect workers and motorists. Wisconsin’s laws further protect road workers, with penalties for traffic violations doubling in work zones.

To help keep work zones safe, WSP recommends drivers should:

— Buckle up, phone down. Eliminate distractions. State law prohibits the use of hand-held electronic devices in work zones, except to report an emergency. Looking down for just 5 seconds at 55 mph takes a driver’s eyes off the road for the length of a football field.

— Plan ahead. Leave early or take an alternate route when construction is anticipated. Know before you go with 511 Wisconsin. Download the 511 Wisconsin app or call 511 for the latest travel information across the state.

— Expect the unexpected. Speed limits may be reduced, traffic lanes may be shifted and crews may be working on or near the road.

— Keep your distance. Rear-end collisions are common in work zones, so give yourself extra space.

— Be patient. If you don’t see workers, that doesn’t mean they’re not there. Always be watchful for workers and vehicles throughout the work zone.

— Move over or slow down for stopped emergency vehicles with warning lights activated. The Move Over Law requires drivers to move out of the lane closest to a maintenance worker or emergency responder. If you can’t move over, slow down.

— Use the zipper merge strategy when lanes are reduced; take alternating turns to merge.