Safety is MDOT’s number one priority: safety of the traveling public and safety of highway workers. In 2016, there were approximately 10 fatalities in Mississippi work zones – twice the number from the previous year.
Traveling through highway work zones can be frustrating and dangerous, because work zones present drivers with unfamiliar driving conditions. Some of the most common types of work zones drivers encounter on Mississippi highways are: mobile work zones, single lane closures on interstates and single lane closures on highways with two-way traffic. Highway work zones come in various formats, but all are designed to protect human life.
Motorists help increase safety by slowing down when approaching and traveling through highway work zones. Motorists should stay alert and watch out for reduced speed limits, narrow driving lanes and highway workers. Motorists should pay attention to Advanced warning signs present when approaching a work zone, regardless of the type. Motorists should avoid distracted driving. For example, talking or texting on cell phones reduces driver response times dramatically.
For more information on common highway work zones and driver tips, visit GoMDOT.com/driversmartms.
