Construction zones, speeding and cell phones are potential killers

Construction zones, speeding and cell phones are potential killers

I was watching the evening news and saw the horrible accident on I-80 in the construction zone and want to send my thoughts and prayers to the family members. I am not sure what the circumstances are regarding that accident, but it did however trigger a horrible memory for me that occurred two years ago June 12. I was also involved in an accident in a construction zone where a car was passing a semi-truck going an estimated speed of 70 mph, because he was late to work, and reaching for a cell phone. The hit was so hard it rolled me in my SUV 3-4 times, and, yes, I feel it every day. There were three construction signs posted prior to the sight which were ignored.

The public needs to be aware that a lot of accidents occur in construction zones across the country and to avoid them if at all possible.

I also feel my accident could have been prevented if we had a law forbidding cell phone use while driving, along with hefty construction zone fines. There’s not a call that’s worth risking your life or someone else’s. Ohio needs to pass the laws to save lives. Also if you’re late to work, what does it matter if your late 15 minutes or 1 hour, late is late, so slow down, your driving a vehicle that weighs a few thousand pounds.

I would like to know what the laws are in the state of Ohio for speeding in a construction zone. Other than citing someone for assured cleared distance or failure to control a vehicle? We need to penalize these drivers with a hefty fine, by putting a camera in the zone and make the fines so ridiculously high that the public will know that if you don’t slow down, you’ll be taking out a loan to pay for your fine. The orange signs are there for a reason, there are men working on the roads that risk their lives every day. They depend on your cautious driving to make it home to their family members.

There was a law passed a few years ago, the “Buckle Up” law, and I am here today because of it It saved my life. But Ohio needs to pass a few more laws to save lives So, before you pick up your cell phone while driving, think about this: Is it worth risking someone’s life? No call is worth it. We survived 20 and 30 years ago without cell phones, and we all did just fine.

Jackie Blasiman, New Waterford