5/25/2005
Highway construction suspended to accommodate holiday travelers
BOISE - Most work on highway construction projects throughout Idaho will be
suspended Friday afternoon (May 27) through Monday (May 30) to accommodate
traffic during the Memorial Day weekend, the Idaho Transportation Department
announced.
Projects are under way throughout the state. Traffic impacts
already in place, such as lane restrictions, detours and reduced speed limits,
may continue during the holiday weekend.
Motorists can improve their safety during holiday travel by following these tips:
- Always wear seat belts. A seat belt provides protection against injury or death in a collision. Idaho law requires everyone in a vehicle to be properly restrained. Through June 5, law enforcement will increase patrols aimed at enforcing the law and saving lives.
- Put children in the right safety seat. Keeping kids safe on the road means putting them in the right safety restraint at the right age. Children age 12 and under should be properly restrained in the back seat. For information on safety restraints, visit www.NHTSA.dot.gov or itd.idaho.gov/ohs/ChildSafety
- Dont drink and drive. Choose a designated driver if celebrations include alcohol.
- Pay attention. Accidents can be caused by split-second distractions such as spilled drinks, changing a radio station or answering the cell phone.
- Plan ahead. For weekly construction updates on the state highway and interstate system, consult the Idaho Road Report. The report is accessible 24 hours a day, seven days a week (including holidays) by phone or on the Internet. Call 1-888-IDA-ROAD (432-7623) or for online updates, visit itd.idaho.gov .
- Slow down in highway work zones. Rear-end collisions account for most work zone crashes. Following too closely, inattentive driving, failing to yield the right of way and improper lane changes contribute to accidents in work zones.