CORNWALL, Ontario – The City of Cornwall is asking drivers to be mindful of everyone’s safety when travelling through construction zones.
“I have recently received a few request to remind residents of the dangers everyone faces in these areas, one in particular includes the construction zone on Southbranch Rd. east of McConnell Ave., vehicles driving very excessive and or aggressive through the area,” wrote Tommy Sauve, Cornwall’s Safety, Training and Operations Supervisor. “For everyone’s safety, please follow all signs and direction posted in all construction zones no matter where you may be travelling. It’s a serious concern throughout every jurisdiction and the consequences could be severe should there be an accident that could have easily been prevented.”
The City of Cornwall posted the following safety checklist for motorists on their website.
- Slow down. Obey the reduced speed limits posted in construction areas.
- Focus on the task of driving, not distracted driving such as sending a text or email, checking social media, talking on the phone, eating or anything else that keeps you from focusing on the road.
- Follow directions given by traffic control persons; Drivers who ignore the stop/slow signs of construction zone traffic controllers could face fines of up to $500 and three demerit points.
- Plan ahead to avoid delays, give yourself extra time for your commute. Knowing where work zones are and checking traffic before you leave can help you avoid an unexpected delay.
- When traffic merges due to a lane closure, ease into the lane early and leave gaps for other vehicles. The more cooperative drivers are the more traffic moves along smoothly.
- Leave adequate braking room between your vehicle and the one ahead of you. Also, keep a safe distance between your vehicle and traffic barriers, trucks, construction equipment and workers.
- Leave Yourself an Out! When stopped in traffic, leave a safety zone between you and the vehicle in front of you. A good rule of thumb is that when stopped in traffic you should be able to see the bottom of the tires of the vehicle in front of you.
- Adapt to construction zones like you would for weather conditions such as rain or snow. The risks can sometimes be quite similar: reduced visibility, uncertain road surfaces, sudden stops, etc.; and
