Highway construction often leads to lane closures, which can easily cause traffic congestion and affect vehicle passage.
According to information from the highway police, due to changing road conditions, the likelihood of accidents occurring in construction zones has significantly increased.
Highway police advise that some driving behaviors are particularly dangerous in construction zones, and drivers should be cautious to avoid them.
Dangerous Move 1: Following Too Closely
Black Box Moment: At the 124-kilometer mark on the Shangsan Expressway in the direction of Sanmen—right at the entrance to the Tiantai Service Area—the slow lane was closed for repairs due to potholes. After the closure, vehicles were diverted through the fast lane and the service area entrance ramp.
One noon a few days ago, a Buick sedan with a Taizhou license plate passed through the entrance ramp, knocking down several road closure barriers before crashing into the central guardrail. During the incident, two maintenance workers repairing the pothole were unfortunately hit and seriously injured.
An investigation by highway police revealed that the Buick driver, Mr. Wu, was trying to enter the service area to rest and was following a large truck closely. Suddenly, the truck braked hard, and Mr. Wu, who was too close behind, swerved left in panic to avoid a collision, crashing through the construction barrier and hitting the maintenance workers.
Police analysis: In highway construction zones, speed limits reduce vehicle speeds, which also shortens the distance between vehicles. In such situations, following too closely can easily lead to rear-end collisions or side-swiping if the car in front brakes suddenly.
The simplest and most effective way to prevent such accidents is to maintain a safe following distance and avoid tailgating, giving yourself enough time to react.
Dangerous Move 2: Overtaking in the Wrong Lane
Black Box Moment: A collision occurred not long ago at the 142-kilometer mark on the Shangsan Expressway in the direction of Shangyu, where a sedan crashed head-on into a truck.
The accident happened in a construction zone where one lane was closed, forcing two-way traffic to share a single lane. The collision caused severe damage to both vehicles, with the sedan’s front end crumpled under the truck and airbags deployed.
“At that moment, I saw the sedan dart out from behind the cones—it seemed like it was trying to overtake the truck ahead. When I saw it heading straight for me, I slammed on the brakes. The sedan driver saw me too and braked hard, but it was too late,” the truck driver recalled to the police.
Police analysis: In construction zones with one-way, two-lane traffic, overtaking is strictly prohibited. Since trucks usually travel at slower speeds, drivers of vehicles behind may become impatient, and some may attempt to cross the barrier and use the opposite lane to pass. This is extremely dangerous because trucks often block the view of smaller vehicles, and when overtaking, drivers may not have enough time to react if an oncoming vehicle appears. This accident was caused by illegal overtaking.
To avoid such accidents, drivers must stay calm and strictly follow traffic signs and markings. Overtaking in the wrong lane can lead to irreversible consequences.
Dangerous Move 3: Not Slowing Down at Lane Diversion Points
Black Box Moment: At the 139-kilometer+300-meter to 141-kilometer+400-meter section of the Shangsan Expressway in the direction of Sanmen, construction led to lane closures. All vehicles heading toward Sanmen had to use the lane for oncoming traffic from Shangyu and then re-enter the Sanmen lane after the construction zone.
At the diversion point, a Fukang sedan with a Wenzhou license plate crashed into two yellow crash barrels at the diversion site, severely damaging its front end. Both the driver and front-seat passenger sustained injuries of varying severity.
Upon arriving at the scene, highway police found that the accident occurred right at the diversion point, where the speed limit was 40 km/h. Judging by the force of the collision, the Fukang was likely traveling at a higher speed. The driver admitted seeing the speed limit sign but thought there wasn’t much traffic, so only slowed down slightly. Upon reaching the diversion point, he failed to merge left in time and crashed into the barrels. Fortunately, the barrels prevented a direct hit on the central guardrail, which could have had far worse consequences.
Police analysis: Highway construction usually involves closing at least one lane, and during peak construction periods, one-way lanes may be closed and the opposite lane used. These diversions involve significant route changes, so drivers must slow down when entering the new lane to avoid accidents.
On highways with construction, warning signs are typically placed several kilometers in advance. Drivers should pay close attention to these signs, adhere to speed limits, and avoid the temptation to speed.
Dangerous Move 4: Squeezing into the Hard Shoulder During Traffic Jams
Black Box Moment: Recently, at the 110-kilometer+100-meter mark on the Shangsan Expressway in the direction of Shangyu, a medium-sized truck’s right front corner pressed against the left side of a business van, pushing it toward the roadside guardrail. The truck also knocked over several barriers and speed limit signs in the construction zone. The two vehicles blocked the entire lane, causing a long backup.
According to a police investigation, road construction had caused slow traffic, prompting the van driver to try to overtake the truck using the hard shoulder. As the van squeezed past and attempted to merge back into the slow lane, the truck’s front collided with it. Startled by the sudden maneuver, the truck driver instinctively swerved left, knocking over multiple barriers.
Police analysis: This accident was entirely caused by the van driver’s illegal overtaking. Had the driver been more patient, the accident could have been avoided. Construction zones already have lower speed limits and are prone to congestion. With narrow roads and heavy traffic, using the hard shoulder is dangerous and increases the risk of accidents.
Additionally, in construction zones, vehicles should stay as close to the central barrier as possible and avoid occupying the hard shoulder, as doing so may block emergency vehicles, delaying rescue efforts and worsening traffic congestion.
(Comprehensive report)