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The CDC (Centers for Disease Control) reports that Florida, California and Texas were ranked as the three states with the most motor vehicle crash fatalities in construction and maintenance work zones in 2012 (most recent available data).

"In recognition of National Work Zone Awareness Week "Expect the Unexpected" - March 23 - March 27, 2015, we at Spivey Law Firm, Personal Injury Attorneys, P.A. would like to remind everyone to drive with caution and attention around work zones," said Fort Myers Vehicle Accident Attorney, Randall Spivey.

In the most recent 2008 study, "Integrated Work Zone Safety Management System and Analysis Tools", done for the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT), by researchers from the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at the University of South Florida, they found that despite the recent efforts to improve work zone safety, the number of crashes and fatalities at work zones increased. They further found that:

• "Angle (where two motor vehicles impact at an angle), pedestrian, and rear-end are the principal crash types of work zone fatal crashes in Florida, while careless driving is the most predominant contributing factor for work zone fatal crashes, followed by failure to yield the right of way. ƒ
• High speed limit, influence of intersection/bridge/ramp/road access, surface roads, bad weather, and failure to yield right of way more likely increased the probability of angle crashes. The pedestrian crashes are easy to occur when work zones are located in urban areas, vehicle moves straightly, or daylight is absent. For rear-end crashes, several factors like high speed limit, urban area, straight movement, absence of daylight, other pavement types (not blacktop), and drivers’ careless driving tend to raise the opportunity of crash occurrence. ƒ
• Work zone fatal crashes for young drivers are easy to occur when they are driving in narrow roadways or at night. The probability of work zone fatal crashes for middle age drivers is likely to increase when alcohol is involved or when they drive heavy vehicles. For elderly drivers, the influence of intersection, bridge, ramp, and road access are the significant factors that increase the probability of work zone fatal crashes. ƒ
• When only one lane is open at work zones (one direction), the Dynamic Lane Merge (DLM) significantly reduces the lane change behaviors. DLM has almost no positive effectiveness on reducing average travel time."

Following a September 2014 work zone crash in Fort Myers, Debbie Tower, a spokeswoman for FDOT said that "construction zones are different than normal highway conditions, and says that drivers need to recognize and react accordingly. Speed limit is reduced. Lanes may be shifted over a little bit. Sometimes lanes are closed. It's incumbent upon drivers to be paying attention."

The FDOT asks drivers to do their job when it comes to Work Zone Safety:

1. Be alert - Expect anything to occur when entering a work zone.

2. Don't tailgate - Unexpected stops frequently occur in work zones.

3. Don't change lanes in the work zone - Any time saved just isn't worth the risk.

4. Obey posted speed limits - Note the posted speed limits in and around the work zone.

5. Minimize distractions - Avoid changing radio stations and using cell phones while driving in the work zone.

6. Expect the unexpected - Keep an eye out for workers and their equipment.

Fort Myers Vehicle Accident Attorney, Randall L. Spivey is a Board Certified Trial Attorney – the highest recognition for competence bestowed by the Florida Bar and a distinction earned by just one (1%) percent of Florida attorneys.  He has handled over 2,000 personal injury and wrongful death cases throughout Florida.  For a free and confidential consultation to discuss your legal rights, contact the Spivey Law Firm, Personal Injury Attorneys, P.A., in Lee County at 239.337.7483 or toll free at 1.888.477.4839,or by email to Randall@SpiveyLaw.com.  Visit SpiveyLaw.com for more information.  You can contact Spivey Law Firm, Personal Injury Attorneys, P.A.in Charlotte County at 941.764.7748 and in Collier County 239.793.7748.