The state Department of Transportation and the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission, and the Pennsylvania State Police have begun enforcement of the newly revised and now permanent statewide Work Zone Speed Safety Camera program. Cameras record motorists exceeding speed limits by 11 miles per hour or more in active work zones where workers are present and signage must mark these zones in advance. New changes include a 15-day warning period after the first offense and “reset” of violations under the previous pilot program, with all new violations classified as a first offense. Fines are civil only with no points assessed. 

Over the course of the five years of the pilot program’s operation, there was a 38% reduction in speeding in work zones (1 mph or more over the speed limit), a 47% reduction in excessive speeding in work zones (11 mph or more over the speed limit), and work zone crashes declined by up to 50% when a speed enforcement vehicle was present. PSATS is asking the legislature to provide similar automated speed enforcement tools to municipalities to improve safety on local roads.  

For more information on the Work Zone Speed Safety Camera program, including a list of projects where the units are deployed, visit WorkZoneCameras.PennDOT.gov.