Defensive Driving Through Construction Zones
Texas has no shortage of construction zones, and they combine several risk factors at once: narrower lanes, shifted traffic patterns, reduced sightlines, and workers on foot close to moving vehicles. Most construction zone crashes aren't caused by the construction itself, they're caused by drivers who don't adjust their driving to match it.
Slow Down Before You're In It
Posted construction zone speed limits exist because lanes are often narrower and closer to workers and equipment than a normal roadway. Slow down as soon as you see the warning signs, not once you're already in the cone-lined section, so you're never braking hard next to a barrier or a work crew.
Watch for Sudden Lane Shifts
- Read the temporary signage well before the merge point, it usually gives you enough warning to move over early rather than at the last second.
- Expect other drivers to merge late. Leave room for someone to cut in rather than assuming your lane will stay clear.
- Follow the temporary lane markings, not the faded original lines, when the two disagree.
Give Extra Space to Workers and Equipment
Construction workers are often just a few feet from moving traffic with only cones or a barrier between them. Keep as much distance as the lane allows, and treat any equipment entering or exiting the work zone as unpredictable, it may pull out slower or wider than a normal vehicle would.
Keep Extra Following Distance
Construction zones are exactly where sudden stops happen, a lane closure, a slow-moving truck, brake lights appearing out of nowhere. This is one of the clearest situations where a longer following distance pays off; if you're not sure how much space is enough, our defensive driving course covers exactly how to judge it in changing conditions like these.