HARRISON COUNTY, Miss. (WLOX) – Accidents on highways are notoriously dangerous, but when construction and road workers are added to the mix, it can be a disaster. That’s why the Mississippi Highway Patrol is taking a heavy-handed approach to policing construction on I-10.

From July 2023 to July 2024, MHP responded to 380 accidents on I-10 in Harrison and Hancock counties. 83 of these occurred in construction zones. Overall, the number of accidents increased 21% compared to the previous year.

The 12 miles of roadwork on I-10 between the Long Beach and Diamondhead exits is contributing to the increase, MHP told WLOX News.

“There are these narrowed lanes, these trucks are right on either side,” explained Trooper Landon Orozco. “In the one second you look left or right, someone could slam on their brakes and you don’t have enough time because there might not be enough room between you.”

Accidents at construction sites can easily be fatal due to the presence of road workers, Orozco added. In areas on I-10, such as the bridge over the Wolf River, traffic is just inches away from the workers.

Police attributed the severity of the accident to excessive speed and inattentive driving, saying that inattentive driving is often more dangerous than drunk driving.

“Most people who drive while impaired are looking at the road and doing their best,” Orozco said. “Many people who are distracted while driving are not looking at the road at all. They are completely disconnected from what they should be doing in the driver’s seat.”

Under Mississippi law, fines for speeding in work zones double. In Harrison County, a ticket under these circumstances could cost up to $400.

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