Road safety tips and their Houston driver translation - Chron - Translation

Translation? Officials really want you to stop causing car crashes in construction zones. 

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To kick the week off, the Texas Department of Transportation put out five suggestions for drivers to make construction zones safer. 

A good-faith effort from our highway-building overlords, the suggestions are rules every driver should follow in construction zones – and everywhere else on the road, for that matter. 

But some drivers in Houston couldn't care less about "rules" or "laws" or "public safety" as we know it. Take one trip around the Loop, and you'll know I'm right. 

Here are TxDOT's five suggestions for work zones, and how they are commonly interpreted by Houston drivers: 

TxDOT: "Slow down. Follow the posted speed limit and drive to conditions. Unsafe speed is one of the main causes of crashes in work zones."

Houston translation: "Speed up. You don't need to be stuck in construction traffic like everyone else. Take the shoulder."

TxDOT: "Pay attention. Avoid distractions, keep your mind on the road and put your phone away."

Houston translation: "Text your friends. Traffic is slower in a work zone anyway, how bad can it be?"

TxDOT: "Watch out for road crews. The only protective gear they wear is a vest, a hardhat and safety boots. Remember, they want to get home safe, too."

Houston drivers: "In your car, you're in a protective bubble where you're only responsible for your own safety."

TxDOT: "Don’t tailgate. Give yourself room to stop in a hurry if you need to. Rear-end collisions are the most common kind of work zone crashes."

Houston drivers: "Tailgate."

TxDOT: "Allow extra time. Road construction can slow things down. Count on it, and plan for it."

Houston drivers: "Sure, you can expect construction on any trip across the city. So why check each time?" 

These warnings come after a staggering increase in deadly construction zone crashes across Texas in 2020. 

Even with millions working from home and staying off the streets, there was a nine percent increase in deadly work-zone crashes from 2019 to 2020: There were more than 22,000 crashes that killed 186 people, according to the Texas Department of Transportation. 

Of those killed, four were construction workers. The others were either drivers or passengers. 

The awareness week lasts through April 30. 

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