RSSAccording to a 495 Express Lanes survey of law enforcement officers serving in Northern Virginia, texting while driving is the most dangerous behavior in construction zones, ahead of speeding, aggressive driving and not obeying changing traffic patterns. Yesterday, in conjunction with National Work Zone Awareness Week in the US, partners on one of the largest highway construction projects in the region released these findings in a new distracted driving report.
The new survey of Northern Virginia law enforcement officers found that despite the danger created by texting-related distracted driving in construction zones, an estimated 40 per cent of drivers operating their vehicles in a construction zone are using a cell phone. The net result is more traffic incidents. In fact, 78 per cent of responding law enforcement officials indicated that the number of automobile crashes/incidents in construction zones has increased since they joined their department.
For responding local police officers, the cause behind the increase in incidents is clear. Cell phone use overall is the primary cause of crashes responded to in an estimated 34 per cent of instances, more than double speeding (13 per cent) or aggressive driving (15 per cent) as a primary cause.
The survey was based on responses from 402 police officers in Northern Virginia from March 21 to March 30, 2012. Participating departments include Virginia State Police, Fairfax County Police Department, Prince William County Police and the City of Alexandria Police.
The 495 Express Lanes project includes the replacement of more than US$260 million of aging infrastructure including 58 bridges and overpasses. Construction is expected to be completed in late 2012.
The new survey of Northern Virginia law enforcement officers found that despite the danger created by texting-related distracted driving in construction zones, an estimated 40 per cent of drivers operating their vehicles in a construction zone are using a cell phone. The net result is more traffic incidents. In fact, 78 per cent of responding law enforcement officials indicated that the number of automobile crashes/incidents in construction zones has increased since they joined their department.
For responding local police officers, the cause behind the increase in incidents is clear. Cell phone use overall is the primary cause of crashes responded to in an estimated 34 per cent of instances, more than double speeding (13 per cent) or aggressive driving (15 per cent) as a primary cause.
The survey was based on responses from 402 police officers in Northern Virginia from March 21 to March 30, 2012. Participating departments include Virginia State Police, Fairfax County Police Department, Prince William County Police and the City of Alexandria Police.
The 495 Express Lanes project includes the replacement of more than US$260 million of aging infrastructure including 58 bridges and overpasses. Construction is expected to be completed in late 2012.
