As construction zones continue to be a part of daily commutes, drivers need to slow down and allow workers to improve roads.

Those who don't end up with a hefty fine, or worse.

But what happens when construction workers are not present? If it's a long weekend and crews are gone and the site looks safe by the naked eye, can drivers resume normal highway speeds?

The answer to those questions is still the same as if the workers are there.

Protective Services Coordinator for the M.D. of Foothills Darlene Roblin says as long as construction signage is up, you must slow down.

"Those construction zones are in effect as long as the signage is up," she says. "So it's not up to the discretion of the driver whether they're going to obey that construction signage or not, based on whether somebody is present or not."

Even when workers are not present, you can be fined and given demerits.

Roblin says construction sites may look safe to go faster in a situation where there's no workers, but there might be some hidden elements that drivers aren't aware of until it's too late.

"[It] still can be a risk to the motoring public," she says. "Equipment being left in the area, changes in road elevation, lane markings not being where they should be if things have been torn up and they haven't quite got back to restoring the location to it's normal state."

Roblin says lower speed limits in construction zones aren't just for the workers safety, but for motorists as well.

"The road conditions are not typical of what they normally are," she says. "We do need people to slow down in those areas."

Questions, comments, or story ideas? Email us at news@okotoksonline.com