If You Do Not See Workers in a Work Zone, You Could Be in Serious Trouble
Drive slowly and carefully in work zone so you can keep your affordable car insurance, even if you do not see workers in a work zone. Most accidents in work zones are caused by distracted drivers so be sure to pay attention and double your following distance if you are behind another car. You can face increased fines, penalties, and raised car insurance rates if you get pulled over in a work zone — regardless of the presence of workers — so you should always exercise caution when driving through a work zone.
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Joel Ohman
Founder & CFP®
Joel Ohman is the CEO of a private equity backed digital media company. He is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™, author, angel investor, and serial entrepreneur who loves creating new things, whether books or businesses. He has also previously served as the founder and resident CFP® of a national insurance agency, Real Time Health Quotes. He has an MBA from the University of South Florida. Jo...
Founder & CFP®
UPDATED: Mar 15, 2023
It’s all about you. We want to help you make the right coverage choices.
Advertiser Disclosure: We strive to help you make confident car insurance decisions. Comparison shopping should be easy. We are not affiliated with any one car insurance company and cannot guarantee quotes from any single company.
Our partnerships don’t influence our content. Our opinions are our own. To compare quotes from top car companies please enter your ZIP code above to use the free quote tool. The more quotes you compare, the more chances to save.
Editorial Guidelines: We are a free online resource for anyone interested in learning more about auto insurance. Our goal is to be an objective, third-party resource for everything auto insurance related. We update our site regularly, and all content is reviewed by auto insurance experts.
UPDATED: Mar 15, 2023
It’s all about you. We want to help you make the right coverage choices.
Advertiser Disclosure: We strive to help you make confident car insurance decisions. Comparison shopping should be easy. We are not affiliated with any one car insurance company and cannot guarantee quotes from any single company.
Our partnerships don’t influence our content. Our opinions are our own. To compare quotes from top car companies please enter your ZIP code above to use the free quote tool. The more quotes you compare, the more chances to save.
On This Page
- Most work zones are marked with signs and flashing lights
- Distracted drivers cause the most accidents in work zones
- You should focus all your attention on driving safely when in a work zone
Responsible driving in a work zone is very important, not only to keep your car insurance affordable but to keep the workers fixing the roads safe.
Just as your loved ones want you to get home safely, the workers maintaining roads and bridges also have family and friends to return to. So, you should always practice safe driving techniques, particularly in work zones, and do your best to avoid hitting any unseen workers.
You may currently have low rates with your car insurance company, but if you injure workers in a work zone due to distracted driving, you should expect to pay a rate increase on top of other legal fines you may face.
Keep reading to learn how you can keep yourself and others safe while driving through a work zone.
If you do not see workers in a work zone and get into a crash, your rates could increase. Enter your ZIP code to get free insurance quotes that can work with your budget no matter what happens.
What is a work zone?
A work zone is an area on a public road where maintenance or construction is taking place. Orange and black signs — along with flashing lights — typically designate the start of a work zone, but you can also expect to see cones blocking off entire lanes, larger barriers blocking the shoulder of a highway, and even moving utility vehicles.
It is important to recognize that in work zones, construction vehicles are usually operating and may not always be pulled off to the side. For example, if a vehicle is repainting lines on a street and you are behind that vehicle, you are still considered to be in a work zone.
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What causes accidents in a work zone?
Distracted drivers cause the most accidents in a work zone. So, if you are driving in work zones you should limit any in-car distractions.
Do not attempt to use your cellphone, even if you think you are moving too slowly to cause any harm. Don’t eat food or engage in any other activity that would take your eyes off the road.
Let’s take a closer look at how you can keep yourself and others safe when driving through a work zone.
How Drivers Can Stay Safe in Work Zones
So, you’ve entered a work zone, but you can’t see any workers. Is it safe for you to drive at full speed?
No, it isn’t. When driving through a work zone, you should slow down, make sure that your headlights are turned on, and then, if there’s a car in front of you, double the distance between you and that vehicle. Not only will this help you reduce your chances of getting into a rear-end collision if the other driver slams on the brakes, but you’ll also have time to react if a construction worker were to suddenly appear.
What happens if a driver gets a ticket in a work zone?
Will a moving violation ticket affect car insurance rates?
It certainly can, and while every state makes its own rules regarding traffic laws in work zones, if you were, let’s say, speeding through a work zone, you can expect to pay some hefty fines on top of the speeding ticket you get. If you need another reason to follow the speed limit, just take a look at how much moving violations can raise insurance rates:
Companies | Clean record | With 1 speeding violation | With 1 accident | With 1 DUI |
---|---|---|---|---|
Allstate | $3,819.90 | $4,483.51 | $4,987.68 | $6,260.73 |
American Family | $2,693.61 | $3,025.74 | $3,722.75 | $4,330.24 |
Farmers | $3,460.60 | $4,079.01 | $4,518.73 | $4,718.75 |
Geico | $2,145.96 | $2,645.43 | $3,192.77 | $4,875.87 |
Liberty Mutual | $4,774.30 | $5,701.26 | $6,204.78 | $7,613.48 |
Nationwide | $2,746.18 | $3,113.68 | $3,396.95 | $4,543.20 |
Progressive | $3,393.09 | $4,002.28 | $4,777.04 | $3,969.65 |
State Farm | $2,821.18 | $3,186.01 | $3,396.01 | $3,636.80 |
Travelers | $3,447.69 | $4,260.80 | $4,289.74 | $5,741.40 |
USAA | $1,933.68 | $2,193.25 | $2,516.24 | $3,506.03 |
As evident by the data above, you can end up facing consequences that could put a serious strain on your bank account no matter where you buy car insurance if you do not see workers in a work zone and hurt someone while driving or speeding through it.
How can drivers reduce the cost of insurance?
If you’ve picked up a speeding ticket or two and are watching your insurance rates tick up, don’t fret. Most insurance companies provide several discounts that can help you reduce your rates to an affordable level. Below is a chart that illustrates some of the discounts offered by top insurance companies:
Discounts | 21st Century | AAA | Allstate | American Family | Ameriprise | Amica | Country Financial | Esurance | Farmers | Geico | Liberty Mutual | MetLife | Nationwide | Progressive | Safe Auto | Safeco | State Farm | The General | The Hanover | The Hartford | Travelers | USAA |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Adaptive Cruise Control | x | x | x | x | ||||||||||||||||||
Adaptive Headlights | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | ||||||||||||||
Anti-lock Brakes | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x |
Anti-Theft | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x |
Daytime Running Lights | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | ||||
Electronic Stability Control | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | |||||||||||||
Utility Vehicle | x | x | x | x | ||||||||||||||||||
Vehicle Recovery | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | |
VIN Etching | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | ||||||||||||
Lane Departure Warning | x | x | x | x | ||||||||||||||||||
Newer Vehicle | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | ||||||
Green Vehicle | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | |||||||||||||||
Forward Collision Warning | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | |||||||||||||||
Claim Free | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x |
Continuous Coverage | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | |||||||
Defensive Driver | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x |
Distant Student | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | |||||||
Driver's Ed | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | ||
Driving Device/App | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | ||||||||
Early Signing | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | ||||||||
Emergency Deployment | x | |||||||||||||||||||||
Engaged Couple | x | |||||||||||||||||||||
Family Legacy | x | x | x | x | x | x | ||||||||||||||||
Family Plan | x | x | x | x | x | |||||||||||||||||
Farm Vehicle | x | x | x | x | ||||||||||||||||||
Fast 5 | x | |||||||||||||||||||||
Federal Employee | x | x | x | x | ||||||||||||||||||
Full Payment | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | |||||
Further Education | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | |||||||||||||
Garaging/Storing | x | x | x | x | x | x | ||||||||||||||||
Good Credit | x | x | x | x | ||||||||||||||||||
Good Student | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x |
Homeowner | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | ||||
Life Insurance | x | x | ||||||||||||||||||||
Low Mileage | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | |||
Loyalty | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | ||||||||||
Married | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | ||||||||
Membership/Group | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | |||||||||||
Military | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | |||||||||||
Military Garaging | x | |||||||||||||||||||||
Multiple Drivers | x | x | ||||||||||||||||||||
Multiple Policies | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | |
Multiple Vehicles | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | |
New Address | x | |||||||||||||||||||||
New Customer/New Plan | x | x | x | |||||||||||||||||||
New Graduate | x | |||||||||||||||||||||
Newly Licensed | x | |||||||||||||||||||||
Newlyweds | x | |||||||||||||||||||||
Non-Smoker/Non-Drinker | x | |||||||||||||||||||||
Occasional Operator | x | |||||||||||||||||||||
Occupation | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | ||||||||||
On Time Payments | x | x | x | x | ||||||||||||||||||
Online Shopper | x | x | ||||||||||||||||||||
Paperless Documents | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | ||||||||||||||
Paperless/Auto Billing | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | |||||
Passive Restraint | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x |
Recent Retirees | x | x | ||||||||||||||||||||
Renter | x | x | x | |||||||||||||||||||
Roadside Assistance | x | x | ||||||||||||||||||||
Safe Driver | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | |||
Seat Belt Use | x | |||||||||||||||||||||
Senior Driver | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | |||||||||||||
Stable Residence | x | x | x | x | ||||||||||||||||||
Students & Alumni | x | x | x | x | x | x | ||||||||||||||||
Switching Provider | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | |||||||||||
Volunteer | x | |||||||||||||||||||||
Young Driver | x | x | x | x | x | x | ||||||||||||||||
Discounts Provided # | 21 | 21 | 29 | 27 | 18 | 27 | 26 | 34 | 34 | 32 | 38 | 38 | 35 | 36 | 22 | 30 | 20 | 20 | 22 | 38 | 28 | 28 |
Of course, if your insurance is too high even after discounts, you may want to consider shopping for a new insurance company online.
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Enter your ZIP code below to view companies that have cheap car insurance rates.
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Why Drivers Should Shop Online for Insurance
Drivers have an immense amount of flexibility when it comes to online insurance shopping. For example, you aren’t chained by the constraints of a business’ hours of operation. As long as you have internet access, you can find a great insurance company for your needs while you’re out getting coffee or when you’re snuggled up in bed.
Now, you will have to share some information about yourself to get an accurate quote. Be prepared to give your name, address, age, gender, marital status, and driver’s license number whenever you request a quote. You should also request between three to five quotes to ensure that you are picking the best policy for you.
Not Seeing Workers in a Work Zone: The Bottom Line
Even if you do not see workers in a work zone, always drive slowly and remain alert whenever you’re driving through a work zone. Speeding through a work zone not only puts others at risk, but the fees added to your speeding ticket and increased car insurance rates could end up being costly. Of course, if you believe that your insurance rates are already too high, you can shop online to find a better policy that fits your needs.
But remember, don’t use your phone to shop for car insurance quotes, even if you do not see workers in a work zone. Always wait until you are out of your vehicle to use your smartphone.
Once you’re safely out of any work zones and no longer behind the wheel, enter your ZIP code to get quotes from insurance companies near you today.
Free Car Insurance Comparison
Enter your ZIP code below to view companies that have cheap car insurance rates.
Secured with SHA-256 Encryption
Joel Ohman
Founder & CFP®
Joel Ohman is the CEO of a private equity backed digital media company. He is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™, author, angel investor, and serial entrepreneur who loves creating new things, whether books or businesses. He has also previously served as the founder and resident CFP® of a national insurance agency, Real Time Health Quotes. He has an MBA from the University of South Florida. Jo...
Founder & CFP®
Editorial Guidelines: We are a free online resource for anyone interested in learning more about auto insurance. Our goal is to be an objective, third-party resource for everything auto insurance related. We update our site regularly, and all content is reviewed by auto insurance experts.