Why must we obey the construction zone speed limit even when there's no construction going on?

How do you know that there is not construction going on? What if there was a pedestrian construction worker cleaning up the site?

or maybe it’s a way to give tickets.

I agree with playthebanjo, but also, it seems to me that it is much more treacherous trying to drive through construction zones, what with all the barricades, cones, equipment, narrow lanes and such. Even if it is a national holiday on a Sunday, it is still unsafe to be driving fast through all that crap.

Les is right. It isn’t just because of the people it is because of the less than safe conditions. The cones and barrels usually mark drop offs or more narrow streets or debree that could be kicked up. The normal speed limit is for ideal conditions.

Just to argue the opposite, it is frustrating to drive thru a 28-mile-long construction zone, for which only about a mile or so is in a construction mode (cones, lane changes, workers, barriers, etc.)

It’s like they‘re trying to maximize the potential for increased fines when doling out traffic tickets.

oh totally. especially when you look at all that nice black top for weeks. ACK! just move the damn cones already.

@robmandu – Thank you! That’s more or less what I was getting at. And you can ALWAYS tell when there’s no work being done because you PASSED it. Or an even better example being a Holiday. Granted I can see the construction cones being a slight reason for people still having to obey the construction speed limit, but generally these “work zones” are off on the shoulder, and completely out of harms way.

This is sort of off topic (maybe not really), but I think people need to slow down in general. In Wyoming, the speed limit is 75. I think that is super crazy. And people try to drive that fast when there is traffic, ice, no visibility, a cow on the road, you name it. Construction zones on highways tend to be 10–20 mph slower than normal. Is it really going to inconvenience you so much to drive 55 or 65 for ten miles? Why is everyone trying to kill me on the road?

If people knew how to clear the fast lane, or get over when someone were approaching them, then there wouldn’t need to be death involved. Generally the speed limits aren’t 55 or 65 through construction zones, they’re 25–45, and yes it is inconvenient.

@luminous: Come here to Wyoming or northern Colorado sometime. Normal speed limit: 75 mph. Constriction speed limit: 65. It is nuts. Most more populated places have better speed restrictions (I am from Chicago, and I think it goes down to 45). I know how to drive (I use the right lane for driving, the left lane for passing), but people still have to fly around me and cut me off. It drives me crazy. I’m in the stinking left lane, doing the speed limit! I don’t care if you pass me, but don’t be so damn crazy about it. There. I feel better now. I’ll get off my soapbox now.

hahaha, well the only time I get crazy about it is if I come up on someone in the passing lane, and they continue doing their current speed, and show no effort in moving over. This is an issue because if I decide to get into the middle lane and pass, the person might decide that this is the time to get out of the lane, and boom, accident no matter what speed you’re doing. If I decide to just go around them with no waiting period, their quick reaction could get me killed as well. Like I don’t understand why people have to just sit in the passing lane doing the speed limit? Is it because they think they’ll EVENTUALLY pass someone? Is that how their mind works? It’s inconsiderate, and shows their complete ignorance. It’s THOSE people who are the ones causing accidents.

@luminous: I agree. I sometimes wish I had death rays in my headlights, so when people did stupid stuff like that, I could make them disappear.

@Les – hahaha, I always joked that i’d install a spotlight on my roof, and blind them to death…..unfortunately it would cause an instant accident…..but man would it be entertaining for a second.

My father in law is one of those who puts his cruz on and never moves out of the left lane. ARGH!!! I hate being in the car when he does that. I am always “I’ll get out of the way, you either get where your going or clear the cops for me” hehe

Im pretty sure that if there are no workers present, then you dont have to slow down to the 45 mph speed limit (in the US), but i could be wrong

@waterskier2007 – people are getting pulled over during off construction hours now, apparently it’s a law all of a sudden.

@luminous, are you serious, i was almost positive that the 45 mph limit only applied when there were workers present, but i guess im wrong

@waterskier2007 – nope, that was the brunt of my complaining here, haha. I think it’s utterly ridiculous to have to slow down in a construction zone when there’s no workers present. I think it should have to be the construction workers responsibility to make sure there’s no dangerous debris outside of the construction cones (and some kind of signs ensuring motorists that the construction is off duty), but nope, they’re milking motorists of their money by ticketing people claiming it’s “dangerous” even during OFF hours.

yeah, it is pretty rediculous. if there really is a law, if not people are getting had in terms of tickets when they shouldnt

@luminous, i just found this on the MDOT (michigan department of transportation) website

if you read it, it says “where workers present”. im not sure where you live but i know theres lots of construction in michigan so it applies a lot here

MDOT

Usually, “where workers present” is tied to “traffic fines double”. The speed limit, however, is always whatever’s posted.

read the link and it applies to speed

I wasn’t talking just about Michigan. ;-)

oh yeah i know, but thats where i live so im supplying that input

There are areas where the construction takes the safe road area and narrows it down where the cones are just inside say a 1/2 a foot drop off. I would be pissed if some hot rodder had to go through the corrador minus 7 feet at plus 5 mph like normal because there were no people, caused an accident and my boy was hurt. Screw that.

im sorry, what do u mean “go through the corridor minus 7 feet”? im trying to follow your post

Well, its my dumb way of saying the safe width of any given road minus the work minus the barrels/cones.

oh gotcha