| Updated: 7/04/2012 9:26 am |
Published: 7/03/2012 8:45 pm
|
Tulsa is the land of orange cones and barrels. Perhaps the signs should not only say, “pardon our progress,” but also "sorry about what's happening to your car."
According to the workload some body shops are taking on, they’re a success.
Jerrad Baker said as soon as his crew at Unique Collision puts a car back together, it seems more drivers are lining up for repairs.
"I don't think I’ve seen it this bad,” said Baker
He believes all the orange cones and signs around town are leading drivers straight to repair shops. Right now, most of the cars sitting in his garage got rear-ended, or rear-ended other drivers.
Alex McGuffin just picked his ride up from the shop.
"Man, I hope no one else rear-ends me,” said McGuffin.
He’s now constantly checking his rearview. Just days ago, he got stuck in construction on the Creek Turnpike. It forced him to come to a complete stop.
Moments later, someone slammed into him. The collision ruined that guy's front end, cracked his radiator and totaled his car.
"He was headed to his graduation,” said McGuffin.
Since McGuffin just had a lopsided bumper, he gave the kid a ride. They were going to the same graduation.
"I just feel like its taking a long time for the construction," said McGuffin.
Kenna Mitchell, with ODOT said that sense of urgency-- when signs warn "slow down" puts workers at risk.
"Just last week, we lost a worker on I-40,” said Mitchell.
Last year, another worker died in a collision along Highway 75 in a work-zone. That same year there were 1,427 accidents statewide where these barrels lined roads.
"It could just take a second for a tragedy to happen,” said Mitchell. "Drivers really have to be on their guard in these work-zones."
Otherwise, your car could end up at a body shop, or worse.
If workers are present and you're caught speeding fines will double in construction zones.
