Work Zone Safety

In Illinois, there is an average of over 7,000 crashes in highway work zones every year.

• Understand where a work zone begins and ends and that reduced speeds are required.
  Watch for signs posted a minimum of one-half mile in advance of a construction zone. Reduce your speed to the posted speed limit, generally 45 m.p.h.



“I would like to thank all the State Troopers for making the Work Zone a safer place for us to work in... I can't begin to tell you how much safer I feel knowing they are there enforcing the law. It's comforting to see the new laws and enforcement in the Work Zone first hand. Thank you for your continued efforts!”

Adeline Seigler
Certified Flagger for 16 years

• SLOW DOWN whether or not workers are present.
  Obey construction work zone speed limits at all times, 24/ 7, even when workers are not present. The minimum penalty for speeding in a work zone is $375, regardless of whether there are workers present or not. Scott’s Law requires motorists to slow down or move to the next available lane when approaching emergency or highway maintainer vehicles with flashing lights.


• Don’t tailgate.
  One of the most common crashes in a work zone is a rear-end collision. In addition, traffic in work zones makes sudden stops.
  
• Expect the unexpected.
  Traffic patterns change often in many construction zones. Workers also work on or near the live roadway.
  
• Stay alert and minimize distractions.
  Dedicate your full attention to the roadway. Avoid activities that may divert your attention from the roadway such as talking on cell phones.
  
• Penalties for hitting a worker are severe.
  The penalty for hitting a worker is a $10,000 fine and 14 years in jail. Signs warning of penalties are posted along multi-lane construction projects.


• Watch for workers.
  Keep an eye out for the safety colors of orange and fluorescent lime-green that all workers wear when on the roads.
  
  Visit the Illinois Department of Transportation’s Web site for more Work Zone Safety information.

• Watch your speed at tollbooths
  Obey the speed limit signs posted. This is for the safety of drivers and workers because lanes are more narrow than highway lanes and workers are present.
  
• Slow down when entering/exiting toll plazas.
  Obey the speed limits and stop as required in cash and automatic ramp lanes. Be alert for slower moving traffic and allow time to decelerate. The speed limits approaching toll plazas have been reduced to increase public awareness about the need to drive safely on the Tollway. 45 m.p.h. speed limits apply approximately one-half mile from most toll plazas. In rural areas where the speed limit is 65 m.p.h., the speed limit is reduced to 55 m.p.h. about two miles ahead of plazas. Drivers should not accelerate too quickly upon exiting manual plazas as multiple lanes merge into a smaller number of lanes.
  
• Stay in your lane when entering/exiting toll plazas.
  Solid lines indicate that it is illegal to change lanes. The Tollway has initiated a striping plan at mainline plazas to improve the overall flow of traffic. Solid lines approaching and departing the plazas prompt motorists to select a lane sooner and prevent erratic lane changing. Pay attention to overhead signs and pavement markings when approaching a plaza and stay in the lane you choose. Switching lanes close to a plaza is unsafe.
  
• Remember, ramp plazas have I-PASS Only lanes.
  Most ramp toll plazas have I-PASS Only lanes. I-PASS users do not have to stop in I-PASS Only lanes. The speed limit for I-PASS Only lanes on ramps is 15 m.p.h. All cars in the cash lanes must stop as required by law.
  
• Never stop in an I-PASS Only lane.
  It is unsafe to stop in an I-PASS lane. If you find yourself unintentionally in an I-PASS Only lane, continue through the lane; DO NOT STOP. Go online within 7 days to pay the missed toll - to avoid violations and associated fines of $20 per occurrence.