A harsh reminder of the need for work zone safety

Monday morning's accident east of Cambridge was a wake-up call to remind drivers of the danger of highway construction zones and the special effort Southwest Nebraska residents are going to have to make for the rest of the year.

Thankfully, none of the 13 people taken by Cambridge, Arapahoe and Holbrook emergency crews to Cambridge Memorial Hospital appear to have been seriously hurt. They were all treated and released after the four-car pileup.

But many months of danger remain as the state spends more than $18.3 million to rebuild 47 miles of highway from Cambridge through Holbrook, Arapahoe, Atlanta and Holdrege.

The "mega project" combines work originally planned over a 4-year period from 2006 through 2009, and should give the state a better price on asphalt because of the large volume that is needed -- no small consideration in light of high oil prices.

For frequent travelers between Cambridge, Holbrook, Arapahoe, Atlanta and Holdrege, it will be a trying time, with waits for flaggers and pilot cars.

We think it is better to bite the bullet now rather that spread the inconvenience over four years.

But as Monday's accident indicates, it will take a special effort to keep travel safe.

According to the Nebraska Department of Roads, the two main reasons for work-zone crashes are speeding and inattentive driving. Like Monday's incident, most work-zone crashes in Nebraska involve rear-end collisions. Remember to leave two seconds of braking time between you and the car in front of you.

Most work-zone crashes occur in daylight, and on straight and level sections of roadway. When people are hurt, they're more likely to be motorists than highway workers.

Even if you do have to slow down, you aren't losing that much time -- it takes less than a minute more travel through a two-mile-long work zone at 45 mph than at 65 mph.

So stay alert. Watch and obey flaggers. Turn on your headlights, don't tailgate, don't speed, and keep up with the traffic flow. Don't change lanes in the work zone, avoid changing radio stations and using the cell phone while driving in the work zone. Expect unexpected movement by workers and their equipment, and most of all, be patient.

And remember, if you get in too much of a hurry, you may have to pay the piper. Speeding fines are double in a work zone, from $20 for 1 to 5 mph over the limit, up to $400 for 21 or more mph over -- plus court costs.

Yes, speeding fines are painful, and being delayed is an annoyance, but it will pay off with smooth, safe highways for years to come.