MENASHA, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) – A new effort to crack down on speeders and other traffic violators is underway in the Fox Valley.
Drivers along the construction zone of 441 in the Fox Valley Tuesday may have noticed some extra patrols… or even gotten a ticket.
With all the orange barrels, road signs, and construction crews, it’s hard to miss the sure-fire signs of construction on Highway 10 and 441 in Winnebago County.
But Sergeant Tim McGrath with the Wisconsin State Patrol tells WLUK that’s not stopping some drivers from driving recklessly in this area.
“Definitely in the construction zone, aggressive driving is a problem. By aggressive driving I mean following too close or tailgating, excessive lane changing or speeding” Because of this, McGrath says the State Patrol and the Winnebago County Sheriff’s Office teamed up to crack down on bad driving behaviors in the construction zone.
“We want people traveling through the construction zone on 10/441 to be patient, slow down, stay in their lane”
In addition to the aggressive driving, McGrath says they’re seeing a lot of distracted driving… particularly with cell phones.
“If you receive a call as you’re driving through a construction zone, let it go to voicemail, don’t pick it up, don’t answer it”
The State Patrol says not only is it dangerous to talk on your phone while driving, but a new law in Wisconsin also makes it illegal to talk on a handheld device while driving through a work zone.
McGrath says… “If we see someone manipulating their cell phone, it’s real easy. We can pull you over, and issue a citation, so keep that phone down in a construction zone”
He says driving responsibly will keep not only drivers and passengers safe, but also the construction workers.
There were 239 work zone crashes in 2016 in Winnebago County alone.
The citations they’re issuing start at about $200 dollars, and double when there’s workers present in the construction zones.
