PART II: WORKER SAFETY IN STREET AND HIGHWAY WORK ZONES--THE DRUNK DRIVER THREAT

Fatalities of highway maintenance and construction workers is on the rise. Recently, five such fatalities in one area were caused by drivers who were under the influence of alcohol. Thus, the author looks at drivers under the influence of alcohol to see what if anything can be done to make road signs and markings better so as to prevent this growing problem. He notes that these drivers need the best navigational aids possible when driving along the highway and suggests that work zone crews try the following: Do not erect sudden lane closures or have substandard curves or leave obsolete pavement markings in place or rely heavily on signing because the signs probably will not be read by drivers under the influence; make detours, lane closures and alighment changes smooth and highly visible,; make every effort to create and install traffic control plans that do not depend on reduced speed for motorists in any condition to be able to handle; provide buffer zones between traffic and workers; and determine in advance the type of worker protection needed.