Nothing can seem more frustrating than to find out that your normal route to work has been or will be changed due to a road closure, as drivers in Suffolk, Virginia (VA) will be facing today. Click here to read the article concerning this road closure. Even if you are given advance notice, trying to figure out another way to work or school can be trying.
Road closures are sometimes necessary, however. Closing a road may be the only way that repair work can be done safely and thoroughly. If workers are able to concentrate on their job rather than trying to work around, direct, and otherwise deal with traffic, this can result in a more satisfactory repair process, which will last longer.
Sometimes road closures are unexpected. These can occur when wrecks that have caused serious personal injury, damage to the roadway itself, or even a hazardous material incident have happened. These can be especially dangerous, because little or no warning is given, and traffic may come to a sudden standstill. Diverting traffic to other throughways can be risky, too, as drivers try to merge and work their way through the congestion.
The best thing to do when confronted with road closures, either anticipated or unexpected, is to simply remain calm. Allow yourself a little extra time to get to your destination. If you have enough warning about a road closure, you might want to take the opportunity on a weekend or evening, after normal traffic flow has died down, to find and navigate another route, so that you will be prepared for an anticipated closure.
If you are traveling on a road that is suddenly closed due to the situations mentioned above or for another reason, immediately slow down, and leave a safe distance between your car and the one in front of you. As traffic proceeds, practice driver courtesy when possible, by allowing one car to merge over in front of you, then proceeding on as it is safe. Don’t try to cut people off who are trying to merge, and never use the emergency lane or median to try to get around the closure.
If you are involved in a wreck as a result of a road closure, this resource guide will give you valuable information on what to do when a wreck happens. You can order this guide by clicking here.