The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) and the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission (PA Turnpike), in partnership with the Pennsylvania State Police (PSP) began enforcing  the Work Zone Speed Safety Camera program designed to crack down on drivers speeding through highway construction sites.

Previously referred to as Automated Work Zone Speed Enforcement, the initial five-year pilot program was made permanent when House Bill 1284 was signed into law on December 14, 2023.

The legislation made several adjustments, including a new 15-day warning period beginning on the mail date of the first violation.

If a driver is caught speeding through a work zone by Work Zone Speed Safety Cameras, they will not receive a second violation until 15 days after the mail date of their first violation.

This allows time for the warning to be delivered to the motorist to ensure they are aware of the program and change their driving behavior. Once the 15-day warning period has ended, multiple violations can be received on consecutive days, and even on the same day.

Additionally, under the new legislation, all violations are reset, meaning every motorist will start over with a first violation, even if they had received violations under the pilot program.

Violations that were issued prior to Feb. 15, 2024, during the pilot program are still valid and will continue to be pursued.

"The Work Zone Speed Safety Camera program is about making work zones safer for both workers and motorists by reducing speeds and changing driver behavior," said PennDOT Secretary Mike Carroll. "Data from the pilot program shows it was successful, and we're pleased that it's now a permanent program in Pennsylvania."

Over the course of the five years of the pilot program, there was a 38 percent reduction in speeding in work zones (one mile per hour or more over the speed limit), a 47 percent reduction in excessive speeding in work zones (11 miles per hour or more over the speed limit), and work zone crashes declined by up to 50 percent when a speed enforcement vehicle was present.

Work zones with speed safety cameras deployed are marked with signage in advance of the enforcement area. To improve driver awareness and ensure the signs are more easily noticed by motorists, new high-visibility signs are being implemented.

Pennsylvania's Work Zone Speed Safety Camera program uses vehicle-mounted systems to detect and record motorists exceeding posted work zone speed limits by 11 miles per hour or more using electronic speed timing devices.

Camera systems are only operational in active work zones where workers are present.

Registered owners will receive a warning letter for a first offense, a violation notice with a $75 fine for a second offense, and a violation notice with a $150 fine for third and all subsequent offenses.

These violations are civil penalties only; no points will be assessed to driver's licenses.

"Speed safety cameras are important tools for discouraging drivers from exceeding posted speeds," explained PA Turnpike Chief Operating Officer Craig Shuey. "Paying attention and reducing speed are critical as drivers approach a work zone where workers are inches from live traffic. The goal of this program is to build awareness and most importantly, to change unsafe driving behaviors.

In 2022, there were 1,293 work zone crashes in Pennsylvania, resulting in 14 fatalities, and 42% of work zone crashes resulted in fatalities and/or injuries. Since 1970, PennDOT has lost 90 workers in the line of duty. The PA Turnpike has lost 45 workers since 1945.

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.