Work Zone Speed

Troopers are keeping an eye out for trouble everywhere during the holidays, but they're especially busy in Halifax and Northampton Counties. Speeders are causing accidents in a construction zone along I-95, and the citation books are filling up.

Like all of us, Willie Long likes to concentrate on doing his job, but in his business he has an unusual distraction -- thousands of cars that are speeding by only a few feet away. DOT employee Willie Arrington says that most folks don't pay attention to their speed.

Speeders have become so bad at this I-95 construction site that state troopers are putting in extra hours to stop them. The limit dips from 65 to 45, but some drivers are much faster.

Troopers say high speeds have caused dozens of accidents. They say they are lucky that no drivers or construction workers have been killed. For highway worker Jimmy Long, going to work sometimes requires a leap of faith.

Highway work zones can be very dangerous for workers and motorists.

Last year in North Carolina, more than 3,500 accidents occurred in highway work zones. 19 of those accidents proved fatal. More than 1,500 work zone accidents resulted in injury.