Montana Road Conditions And Closures

Every state has the same goal. No different is Montana. That goal is to reduce the number and severity of crashes, injuries and fatalities in construction zones.

THE CONE ZONE - The Montana Department of Transportation has busy seasons of construction and maintenance work on the 10,800 miles of roads and highway the department maintains.

It is of great importance to always Remember the Three S’s of work zone safety: speed, space and stress.

1. MANAGE YOUR SPEED

• Slow down when approaching all work zones. You will be in the work zone quicker than you think.
• Follow posted speed limits, especially within construction zones, and try to maintain a consistent speed with the traffic flow. And adjust your speed for weather conditions.
• Don't resume normal speed until you see roadway signs indicating it's safe to do so.

2. MANAGE YOUR SPACE

• Leave room. Leave adequate braking room between your vehicle and the one ahead of you. Count out at least two seconds from the time the car ahead of you passes an object and the time your own car passes that object. Also, keep a safe distance between your vehicle and traffic barriers, trucks, construction equipment and workers.
• Don't pass on the shoulder. Don't drive across the median. This creates a very dangerous situation for you, construction workers and other motorists.
• Give yourself an out. When stopped in traffic, leave a safety zone between you and the vehicle in front of you. A good rule of thumb is that when stopped in traffic you should be able to see the bottom of the tires of the vehicle in front of you.
• Don't try to force tailgaters to back off by slamming on your brakes. At night, lightly tap your brake pedal to illuminate your brake lights to warn tailgaters they are too close. During the day, turn your headlights on and off several times to illuminate your tail lights

3. MANAGE YOUR STRESS

• Keep Your Cool. Calm down. Don't rush. Remember, the temporary inconvenience of a construction zone will soon pay off with greatly improved roads.
• Pay Attention. Avoid cell phone or radio distractions, as well as those of other stopped cars or construction.
• Expect Delays. Use the Traveler Information Map to learn about construction; leave a bit earlier; or try an alternate route.

http://www.safetravelusa.com/mt/