New York’s Department of Transportation is urging Central New York drivers to brush-up on basic driving skills to keep themselves and others safe. Recent storms and power outages are prompting the call for motorists to use common sense. DOT regional director David Smith says apparently some drivers forgot a fundamental rule.
“When approaching a dark traffic signal the law is that it's a four-way stop," Smith said. "So everybody is supposed to stop. But what we observed as an agency in this most recent event in Rome was that a lot of people didn't seem to understand that.”
Smith says crews repairing the signals following the severe weather noticed drivers passing through intersections without stopping. He says no accidents were reported, but it’s a good reminder as the region experiences more
frequent and intense storms.
Smith is also urging drivers slow down and take care in construction zones, especially the longer-term I-81 project. There are several work areas requiring reduced speeds on I-81 between the northern and southern interchanges with I-481, and on 481 itself.
“When I travel through the work zones myself, by and large, most people are slowing down," Smith said. "There are a handful that I've witnessed that haven't, and unfortunately, that's why we have to have the automated work zone
speed enforcement in addition to the state troopers.”
Drivers entering work zones have likely noticed the cameras and speed indicators on rigs, recording license plates of speeders. Smith says he’s not aware of a significant increase in crashes related to the I-81 construction, and delays, even during rush hours, appear to be relatively minor.
