Speeding in Roadworks: A Rant
Alright, I need to get something off my chest and would love some feedback. Am I losing my mind here?
Last week, I undertook a 6-7 hour drive down to the coast to visit some friends, and during that trip, I encountered numerous roadwork zones across several local government areas. Nearly all of them had plenty of signs clearly indicating the speed limits for those areas—I’m talking signs placed every 2 to 3 kilometers. Surprisingly, about 50% of these zones even had workers present on-site.
So why is it that so many drivers seem oblivious to the posted speed limits in these roadwork areas? I’m not referring to the scenario where I’m driving at 80 km/h in an 80 zone and someone passes me at 85. I mean drivers zooming through at full highway speeds of 110 km/h without a care in the world. If you’re one of those drivers, can you explain your rationale? And for those who notice this reckless behavior but don’t participate, does it frustrate you as much as it does me? Do some people genuinely believe that the lack of workers means the speed limit no longer applies?
I might be a bit biased since I’ve worked on the roads before, but the number of times I almost got hit by impatient drivers who couldn’t be bothered to wait a few extra minutes in traffic—just to make it to McDonald’s breakfast—was astounding.
I totally get where you’re coming from, and you’re definitely not alone in thinking that way. It’s frustrating to see so many drivers ignore roadwork speed limits, especially when they’re clearly posted and often for good reason. Those zones are in place to protect not just the workers, but also the drivers themselves.
It’s interesting how common it seems for people to treat roadworks like any other stretch of highway once they don’t see workers on-site. Maybe they think the rules don’t apply if there’s no visible activity? Either way, it’s reckless and puts everyone at risk.
As someone who’s spent time in those environments, you have a valid perspective. It’s a tough job, and safety should always come first—both for the workers and the drivers. It definitely irks me when I see people speeding through those zones, and I hope enough awareness can be raised to change this mindset. Here’s to safer roads for everyone!