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Colorado driving lesson · Weather & Special Conditions

Construction & work zones

A 2-minute lesson from the Colorado course. Read the rules and examples, follow the handbook page references, and check your understanding before you move on.

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Read time
2 minutes
Course unit
Weather & Special Conditions
Checkpoint questions
5
Source pages
20, 21

Work zones change daily and put crews just feet from traffic. Signs, cones and warning devices appear before the work starts. Your job: slow down, stay focused, and be ready to stop.

Know the rule

Be prepared to stop suddenly, and do not tailgate in a work zone.

Handbook p. 21 ↗

Know the rule

Large projects may use flaggers, portable concrete barriers, complicated signs and reduced speed limits. Lower limits give you more time to understand and react.

Handbook p. 21 ↗

Know the rule

Watch for pedestrians and bicyclists moving through construction whose safest routes may be blocked.

Handbook p. 21 ↗

Know the rule

Increased police enforcement is routinely added to construction projects.

Handbook p. 21 ↗

Know the rule

As in school zones, fines are doubled in work zones.

Handbook p. 21 ↗

In any work zone:

  • Pay attention, use extra caution and stay focused
  • Obey construction signs, work zone speed limits and flagger instructions
  • Watch the vehicle ahead: most work zone crashes are rear-end collisions from inattentive drivers
Handbook p. 21 ↗

Know the rule

Adjust your lane position away from workers where you can.

Handbook p. 14 ↗

Put it into practice

A flagger holds up a SLOW paddle as you enter a lane closure, and the car ahead brakes. Keep a generous gap, since rear-end crashes are the most common work zone crash, and follow the flagger's directions over your usual habits.

Check your understanding

Read the question, decide on an answer, then open it to check the explanation. These are Roadwise study questions based on the source handbook.

Why are reduced speed limits critical in complex work zones?
  1. They reduce fuel use in slow traffic
  2. They give drivers more time to understand and react
  3. They let workers direct traffic by hand
  4. They keep dust down on unpaved lanes

Answer: They give drivers more time to understand and react

Reduced work zone speed limits give drivers more time to understand and react to information and to pass devices, workers and equipment safely.

Handbook p. 21 ↗
When driving through a construction zone, what should you do with your lane position relative to workers?
  1. Keep it as close as possible to save time
  2. It does not matter, as long as you slow down
  3. Move into the closed lane if it's empty
  4. Move away from workers if possible

Answer: Move away from workers if possible

When driving in a work zone, adjust your lane position away from workers to help keep them safe.

Handbook p. 14 ↗
According to the handbook, most work zone crashes are what type of crash?
  1. Rear-end collisions
  2. Head-on collisions
  3. Sideswipe collisions
  4. Single-vehicle rollovers

Answer: Rear-end collisions

Most work zone crashes are rear-end collisions due to an inattentive driver, so watch the vehicle in front of you.

Handbook p. 21 ↗
Speeding fines in a work zone are never higher than fines elsewhere.
  1. True
  2. False

Answer: False

Fines for failing to follow the posted speed limit in a work zone can be doubled.

Handbook p. 15 ↗
You should never tailgate other vehicles while driving through a construction zone.
  1. True
  2. False

Answer: True

The handbook specifically warns not to tailgate in a work zone, since drivers must be ready to stop suddenly.

Handbook p. 21 ↗
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