Kentucky launches work zone speed cameras

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Dive Transient:

• In an effort to raised defend highway builders and drivers, Kentucky will place automated speed enforcement cameras in freeway work zones, the state’s Transportation Cupboard introduced Aug. 12.
• The Transportation Cupboard will start putting in velocity cameras this summer season and fall in choose work zones, then proceed to construct this system in coming years to incorporate extra work zones all through the state. Areas with the cameras may have warning indicators and flashing lights to alert drivers.
• In 2024, Kentucky recorded over 1,223 work zone crashes, per the announcement. These resulted in seven fatalities and 298 accidents. Nearly all of these killed have been motorists or passengers.

Dive Perception:

Kentucky had over $1 billion in new contracts for paving, new highway and bridge building and repairs awarded final 12 months, and the state is on tempo to fulfill that mark once more this 12 months, a spokesperson for the Transportation Cupboard informed Development Dive. The cupboard plans to put cameras on 4 jobsites within the coming months.

Dashing drivers in work zones received’t be ticketed mechanically. As a substitute, a police officer stationed on the finish of the affected space will make visitors stops, issuing tickets in particular person based mostly on digital camera or detector information. Dashing or visitors violations can carry a $500 effective when employees are current.

“Dashing by means of work zones isn’t simply reckless, it may be lethal,” stated Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear within the announcement. “In Kentucky, we imagine that defending our individuals is all the time the suitable factor to do, and now we’ve got a brand new instrument to assist make that occur.”

About three in 5 contractors have skilled at the very least one vehicle crash in a roadway workzone within the final 12 months, in response to a survey of Related Common Contractors of America members, carried out in partnership with building software program agency HCSS. Almost a 3rd of these surveyed counted 5 or extra crashes.

Contractors imagine extra might be accomplished to guard employees and motorists, too. Almost 40% of these surveyed stated penalties for dashing in work zones are adequate, however enforcement just isn’t. The highest strategies respondents believed may enhance security embody better police presence and stricter enforcement on current work zone legal guidelines.

However Kentucky isn’t the one state doing one thing.

Starting early this 12 months, Washington stated it could mount work zone speed cameras on trailers on energetic work zones all through the state. Like Kentucky, the affected work zones would have indicators telling drivers in regards to the cameras and the posted velocity restrict. Dashing may lead to a effective for drivers.

In New York, an automatic work zone velocity enforcement pilot program was signed into legislation by Gov. Kathy Hochul in September 2021. Earlier this 12 months, the program was extended to 2031 and expanded to double the variety of eligible work zones.