Automated Work Zone Speed Enforcement pilot begins
PennDOT, the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission and the Pennsylvania State Police this week announced the implementation of a statewide Automated Work Zone Speed Enforcement pilot program to reduce work zone speeds, change driver behavior and improve work zone safety for workers and motorists.
The enforcement program was established by the Pennsylvania General Assembly in Act 86 of 2018. A minimum 60-day pre-enforcement period will begin next week. During that period, violations will not be issued. Enforcement is expected to begin in early 2020.
Automated speed enforcement units will be deployed in several work zones during the pre-enforcement period. These work zones will include various types of projects and will initially focus on Interstate and other limited-access highways. Work zones are selected by a data-driven process to maximize the effectiveness of the systems and will be marked with signage in advance of the enforcement area.
In 2018, there were 1,804 work zone crashes in Pennsylvania, resulting in 23 fatalities, and 43 percent of work zone crashes resulted in fatalities and/or injuries. Since 1970, PennDOT has lost 89 workers in the line of duty and the PA Turnpike has lost 45 workers since 1945.
“It’s great to see this pilot program get started,” said PHIA Managing Director Jason Wagner. “PHIA and the construction industry, along with PennDOT and the Turnpike Commission, worked hard over two legislative sessions to bring this to fruition. As the driving public becomes accustomed to it, highway workers and the public at large will benefit from an improved level of safety.”
