Traffic law question…construction

I’ve been meaning to find this out, I thought it was a new law.

When you are driving in a construction zone on the freeway/highway, is the speed limit 55 mph no matter what the posted speed is?

Same question when you are driving through an area with emergency vehicles on the side of the road? I think the speed drops to 55, but I’m not sure.

Haywood, If I remember right you are a new EMT. I have been in the game for 17 or 18 years. I do not know laws of your state, but where I work mostly in Iowa we are allowed to go 10 MPH over the posted speed limit. As Nancy Caroline stressed, dead heroes as no good. Get there safe, take care of the situation, and return to your family. Trust me, you cannot fish if you are dead. On any call you are on, you need to count yourself as #1. We have had plently of Matryrs.

Thanks Robby, I’ve seen the name Haywood, but that’s not me. (I was a fire fighter for 9 years). I thought that was a new law when I was in the fire dept a few years ago.

I agree with what you said, but I’m just checking this out. If its true, maybe a good reminder about it.

The last few nights on 35W south there is construction, and some of the workers stand really close to the traffic. I slowed to 35 or so in a 65mph zone. I’d hate to see someone blow through there at 70+.

They usually post a speed limit.30,40,55….If you get a ticket, You pay double I believe.

Here in Wiscosin coming into a construction zone if the posted speed is a yellow sign it`s more of a recommended speed if it`s posted white, then you are to obey that speed or pay twice the normal ticket if caught.

I believe the WI law states that you must move over to the other lane on a multi-lane highway when passing either construction vehicles or emergency vehicles on the side of the road. If you can’t move over, you must at least slow down.

Last week, up the road from my work, a guy wasn’t paying attention entering a construction zone. Rear ended a parked county truck, glanced off that and ran over a worker, and then piled into a pickup and a street sweeper. Killed the construction worker. Wisconsin law calls for a pretty healthy prison stay if you kill a construction worker in a work zone.