The North Dakota Department of Transportation (NDDOT) reminds motorists to share the road with others during their summer travels to ensure everyone gets to their destinations safely. In order to accomplish this, drivers are asked to minimize their distractions, slow down, and be patient in work zones. Traffic increases over the summer months which includes an increase in motorcycles, RVs and bikes and more families traveling to and from their summer vacations.

Motorists will likely encounter road construction projects while traveling this summer, so you should plan ahead and allow for extra travel time. Work zones aren’t present to inconvenience drivers, but are an important part in maintaining and rebuilding our state’s infrastructure. To ensure safety of motorists and highway workers, motorists are asked to plan ahead and obey posted speed limits and traffic signs. “Safety on our roadways is a top priority for NDDOT as we move toward the goal of zero fatalities and serious injuries on our roads through the Vision Zero initiative,” says NDDOT Director Tom Sorel. “Our goal is for people to get to where they are going, and make it home safely.”

Here are a few other simple tips to keep motorists and their loved one’s safe:

•              Wear your seat belt

• Don’t drive impaired
  

• Minimize distractions
  

• Make sure there is plenty of room between vehicles
  

• Allow more follow distance when following a motorcycle; this gives the motorcycle rider more time to maneuver or stop in an emergency
  

   
  

For your planning convenience, motorists can access information about road conditions, construction activities and other roadway incidents by dialing 511 accessing the NDDOT Travel information map at dot.nd.gov, using the NDRoads app for their smartphones or signing up for GovDelivery text/email subscription service.