The Fatal Truth When Driving Through Texas Work Zones

If you've ever driven down, well, ANY Texas road, I'm sure you've seen plenty of construction. Don't even get me started on Lubbock... But, what if I were to tell you that there are reasons to heed the call of the orange and slow down when workers or traffic cones are present, other than the cliches we've heard on repeat at driving school.

Paying Attention Saves Lives

When 22-year-old Katrina Bond approached road construction on I-35 near Fort Worth, TX, traffic came to a stand still, forcing her to stop behind a massive semi-truck.

A 23-year-old who was on his phone approached the road work where Katrina and other drivers were stopped, he failed to pay attention and slow down, crashing into her car and shoving her into the semi, killing her instantly.

Katrina's mother recently posted to Facebook on the 10th anniversary of her daughter's death at the hands of a distracted driver:

Because of this tragedy and the steps that could have prevented it, the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) raises awareness for the number of preventable deaths along Texas work zones.

Texas Work Zone Crashes

According to TxDOT, 2024 saw nearly 28,000 crashes and 215 deaths that occurred within work zones.

It is because of these accidents that they provide some safety tips to keep in mind when driving through a work zone on Texas roads:

• Slow down - Just because a certain speed or behavior is safe in normal conditions, doesn't mean the same in work zones
• Stay alert and watch for road crews - Follow any instructions from crews and always keep an eye out for the reflective clothing, even at night
• Don't tailgate and prepare for extra time - Don't hug the bumper of the car in front you around work zones, and check for construction on your route before you leave to prepare for more time if needed

One last thing: Texas law requires drivers to either move over to a separate lane or slow down to 20 miles under the posted speed limit when construction vehicles are flashing their lights on the side of the road.