The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) and the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission (PTC), in partnership with the Pennsylvania State Police (PSP), have implemented a statewide Automated Work Zone Speed Enforcement (AWZSE) program to reduce work zone speeds, change driver behavior and improve work zone safety for workers and motorists.
So far in the program, the state has issued 500,000 violations.
The Pennsylvania General Assembly passed a law to allow AWZSE program in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. The legislation, Act 86 of 2018, was introduced in January 2017.
Since the cameras were installed last year, more than a half-million speeding violations have been issued at Pennsylvania construction zones. In the nine months that the cameras operated last year, they recorded more than 219,000 violations statewide and $1.7 million in fines. In the first nine months of this year, violations are up 45% to more than 317,000 and fines more than doubled to $3.6 million.
Work Zone Speed Cameras
Automated Work Zone Speed Enforcement (AWZSE) uses portable systems (either vehicle- or other apparatus-mounted) to detect and record vehicles exceeding work zone posted speed limits by 11 miles per hour (mph) or more using electronic speed timing devices (radar or nonradar). PennDOT says the purpose of the AWZSE program, as enacted, is to:
- Reduce speeds in work zones
- Improve driver behavior
- Save worker and traveler lives
- Complement existing enforcement by the PSP
- Promote work zone safety
Work zones using the cameras are required to have two warning signs for drivers. Those going at least 11 miles per hour over the speed limit get a warning for their first offense. A second offense results in a $75 ticket. The fine is $150 for a third offense.
The law specifies that ticket revenue from cameras be split among PennDOT, the Pennsylvania Turnpike and state police. But last year, the speed camera program lost $1.7 million after expenses. PennDot says construction zone crashes were down last year, but said it is unclear whether speed cameras were a factor due to the pandemic. Crash data is not yet available for this year.
The AWZSE program is managed by PennDOT and the PTC with the assistance of a contracted Program Administrator. The Program Administrator is responsible for assisting PennDOT and the PTC with the development, sustainability, and administration of the program.
Deployments of AWZSE systems in work zones are provided by a contracted System Administrator. This System Administrator is responsible for providing AWZSE equipment, data collection services, and violation appeals processing.
The Pennsylvania State Police is responsible for reviewing and affirming select violations. Violation notices that have been reviewed and affirmed by PSP will include a statement affirming the violation. PSP also provides field speed and quality control testing.
Reader Response
We received some feedback regarding this article that speed cameras are not the best way to deter reckless driving in work zones. We appreciate hearing from our readers and thought you would too:
The work zone speed camera story missed many key points and only spoke to people inside the revenue stream. Recent data clearly showed most people obeying speed limits in work zones, and speeding was counted as a mere one mph above the speed limit, which is absurd. Are speedometers and the cameras that accurate?
Why was it not asked why the speed limits are underposted? Why do other states post higher speed limits in work zones? Why do they not want speed cameras there? What assurance is there of speed reading accuracy and identification of the proper vehicle?
All I see is the desire to implement even more draconian measures to rake in more cash for the state. Engineering analysis and improvements are missing. No profit in that.
Also no mention of some people driving like turtles, or slamming the brakes, which may cause a crash.
The speed camera law must be repealed immediately, not made worse. Pennsylvania needs to learn from other states and use realistic speed limits, the zipper merge, more night work, protective barriers, etc.
A real state trooper can immediately prevent a safety problem, but how does a ticket a month later do that? A real trooper can also issue a ticket to a foreign driver.
If we must have speed cameras, how about something innovative? Rather than speeding fines, how about instead we have a prize drawing for people who drive at the speed limit or below? That would cost money so it will not occur, but it would accomplish the publicly stated goal. This is all about the money folks.
James Sikorski Jr.
PA Advocate National Motorists Association
