Don't "Race the Taper"

When lanes are closed, three main traffic control schemes are used: warning signs, arrow boards, and tapers.

Signs are used to alert traffic that a lane is closing ahead for construction activity.

Arrow boards are the large illuminated boards that flash a yellow arrow on a black background. Arrow boards are placed to signal to approaching drivers that a travel lane is closed for construction activity.

Tapers are built by placing traffic control devices, reflective barrels and cones, in a pattern that closes the lane across a long distance. Longer distances are used on highways. Tapers are designed to merge traffic from the lane that is closing for the construction activity.

How it is supposed to work!

When you see the warning signs, merge left or right as the signs indicate to be ready for the closed lanes. By the time you see the arrow board, traffic should be consolidated into the lanes that are to remain open. The concept behind this traffic control plan is to allow traffic to merge at uniform speeds, because drivers accelerating or decelerating quickly leads to accidents.

How accidents happen by "Racing the taper"

A driver sees the warning signs and knows a lane is to be closed ahead … the driver gets in the lane to be closed and used that opportunity to race ahead of the cars in front, racing all the way into the taper, perhaps passing 5 or 6 cars in the process. This happened on the Route 495 project in October of 2005, and the racing driver clipped the bumper of a truck trying to get back into the open lane. The result was two damaged vehicles and the racing driver stopped by trees off the highway. It could have been much worse.

PLEASE REDUCE YOUR SPEED WHEN TRAVELLING WITHIN THE CONSTRUCTION ZONE, AND DON'T RACE THE TAPER !