Check these construction zone tips

The Washington State Patrol offers these reminders:

•Traffic fines are doubled in work zones when workers are present. Fines cannot be reduced, suspended or waived.

•Persons who drive negligently in work zones, or who remove, evade or purposely strike safety devices can be found guilty of “endangerment of roadway workers, punished as a gross misdemeanor and a license suspension of 60 days.

•The two major reasons for work zone crashes – speeding and inattentive driving

•It takes less than a minute more to travel through a two-mile long work zone at 45 mph than at 65 mph – 52 seconds, to be precise.

•Slow down, pay attention, and stay calm. Work zones aren’t there to personally inconvenience you. They’re there to improve the roads for everyone.

•Merge as soon as possible. Motorists can help maintain traffic flow and posted speeds by moving to the appropriate lane at first notice of an approaching work zone.

•Some work zones – like line painting and road patching – are mobile. Just because you don’t see the workers immediately after you see the warning signs doesn’t mean they’re not out there. Observe the posted signs until you see the one that says “END ROAD WORK.”