What Should You Do About A Downed Power Line?

First and foremost, call 911 in the event that you see a power line down. Report any condition that you consider to be dangerous involving a damaged street light pole or lamp. Never approach or drive your vehicle over a downed wire of any type. 

Most street light circuits operate on 480 volts. Many times street lights are attached to poles that carry current as powerful as 13,000 volts or more. For the safety of your family and yourself treat all downed wires as if they are energized and extremely hazardous.

Traffic Safety Work Zones

Be mindful of any orange diamond shaped road advisory signs that may be placed along roadways. These signs are placed in series, advising that a lane may be closed or narrowed or that there are overhead restrictions. 

Traffic safety work zones are used to protect our streetlight repair staff and the motoring public.  The Department of Transportation governs the standards that must be adhered to when setting up roadway work zones.

Traffic safety work zones channel traffic by placing orange safety cones or flashing light barricades in such a manner as to guide drivers around the worksite. Generally, there will either be a person with a flag or a flashing arrow board giving specific visual instructions to drivers. 

Never cross a line of orange safety cones or barricades and enter the work zone. Construction and/or repair employees are concentrating on their work such as dealing with high voltage electricity or operating heavy equipment. When a driver enters a work zone they place themselves and the construction crew at risk.

There are specific laws that pertain to how drivers must respond to work safety zones. The person directing traffic with a flag or stop sign has control of the safety work zone and must be obeyed for the safety and well-being of all concerned.  

The person controlling the traffic safety work zone does not have the power to arrest, however, they can and will record vehicle license numbers and provide that information to the appropriate authority.  In many areas speeding fines are doubled in traffic safety work zones.