Channel: Lee Health

Category: Education

Tags: fatal crashroad constructionwork zone areasillegal to be on phone in a work zonecar accidentroad workrear-end accidentcar crashwork zone deathinjury prevention resource coordinatorwork zonefines doubledangers of work zonefatalitiesconstructionpoints on your licenseconstruction worksfatal car accident

Description: Southwest Florida is growing at a rapid pace. “We’ve got construction on our roadways here all over the place.” With that growth comes the danger that work zones can present,” A quarter of the crashes that happened in the work zone area are rear-enders because people are following too closely and they’re not anticipating or looking ahead to see what’s happening,” said Lee Health Injury Prevention Resource Coordinator Syndi Bultman. In 2019, there were 62 fatal crashes in Florida work zones and 68 fatalities. Bultman said it’s critical that you slow down, read the signs, and watch out for trucks entering the roadway, “Those lanes are changing, it’s much more difficult for them to maneuver that vehicle around there and that truck needs a lot longer to stop than what your car does, so don’t just cut in front of them or they’re going to ride over you.” It’s also illegal for you to be on your phone in a work zone. Fines double and you can get points on your license. “If you’re following the rules you’re going to save yourself a lot of money and you’re going to save a lot of insurance premiums, but you’re also going to save somebody’s life potentially so they can make it home to their family,” said Bultman. Because even one work zone death is too many. View More Health Matters video segments at LeeHealth.org/Healthmatters Lee Health in Fort Myers, FL is the largest network of health care facilities in Southwest Florida and is highly respected for its expertise, innovation and quality of care. For more than 100 years, we’ve been providing our community with personalized preventative health services and primary care to highly specialized care services and robotic assisted surgeries. Lee Health - Caring People. Inspiring Care. Visit LeeHealth.org