South Dakota driving lesson · Special Driving Situations
Work zones
A 2-minute lesson from the South Dakota course. Read the rules and examples, follow the handbook page references, and check your understanding before you move on.
Work zones mean narrow lanes, rough pavement, moving equipment and people working close to traffic. They've become increasingly dangerous for workers and drivers alike.
Work zone
An area where roadwork takes place; it may involve lane closures, detours, and moving equipment.
When approaching, watch for signs, cones, barrels, large vehicles and workers. Work zone signs have an orange background with black letters or symbols.
Always reduce your speed in a work zone, even if no workers are present. Speed limits may be reduced, and fines for speeding in a work zone may be doubled.
Digital signs may warn of changing conditions such as slow or stopped traffic ahead; some detect traffic speeds automatically. Pay attention to all signs and messages.
It's Sunday and the construction site is empty, but the reduced work zone speed limit is still posted. Obey it: the narrow lanes and rough pavement are still there, and speeding fines may be doubled.
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.
About how many people per year are injured in work zone crashes, according to the handbook?
Approximately 4,000
Approximately 40,000
Approximately 400,000
Approximately 400
Answer: Approximately 40,000
Approximately 40,000 people per year are injured in motor vehicle crashes in work zones.
