Editorial: Speed, work zones are not a good mix

Wednesday, May 21, 2003 | 8:44 a.m.

Anyone who drives or is planning to drive Interstate 15 between the Nevada state line and Victorville, Calif., should be prepared for delays caused by construction. Road-widening projects began earlier this year and will continue through next year. Apparently, however, judging by the increase in accidents since construction began, many drivers are not prepared. Perhaps because they did not allow enough time for the delays, or through force of habit, they are failing to differentiate between construction zones and speed zones.

A 20-mile section of the highway between Baker, Calif., and Holloran Summit Road to its north has seen a 144 percent increase in accidents. Overall on that whole stretch of highway, there has been a 46 percent increase in accidents. Police say the cause is almost entirely related to drivers failing to heed new speed limits in the construction zones, whose narrower passing lanes leave just inches of clearance between cars and concrete lane dividers.

In response, the California Highway Patrol plans to assign more officers to the construction zones. This is a good move, as their mere presence alone will inspire many drivers to ease up on the gas pedal. Nevertheless, there will be long stretches where drivers will be on their own. With Memorial Day approaching, we hope to see a lot less speeding and a lot more responsibility. It shouldn't take a police officer -- or a trip to the hospital -- to make drivers understand the hazards of speeding through construction zones.