Work zones are a necessary part of life in Minnesota. While you may find it irritating to encounter it, it may, too, increase your chances of involvement in an accident. Recent research shows that the number of crashes occurring in the state’s construction zones reached a five-year high in 2019, with more than 2,500 such crashes occurring that year.
According to the Minnesota Safety Council, making your way through a Minnesota work zone is always dangerous. However, you face a higher chance of encountering road construction and finding yourself involved in a work zone wreck during the spring and summer months, when crashes are more prevalent.
Minnesota work zone crash statistics
Since 2015, a total of 4,263 people died in crashes in Minnesota construction zones. During that span, there were 11,835 work zone car crashes, and they caused some 4,263 injuries. Property damage, too, was a common result of work zone wrecks over the last five years, with 2,157 work zone crashes resulting in damaged property.
Work zone crash hazards
There are many reasons work zones are dangerous to navigate. Loose gravel, unclear detours or signage and visual obstructions in the road are just a few of the hazards that increase crash risks in these areas.
Negligence on the part of motorists is also a frequent factor in work zone car wrecks. Speed, for example, is a common element of many such crashes. Drivers who consume alcohol before driving pose a threat to drivers and passengers everywhere. However, the risks they create may prove even more substantial in work zones, where they may need to react suddenly or exercise sound judgment.
When coming across road construction, slow down and drive defensively. Do not count on others to do the same.
