The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation is launching an automated system in work zones to try to reduce the number of crashes, injury and death from motorists speeding through construction sites. 

Bob Joseph/WNBF News
Bob Joseph/WNBF News
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The pilot program is being implemented in select locations but is planned to be operational in active work zones on the interstates and turnpike early next year.

PennDOT says the statewide Automated Work Zone Speed Enforcement program uses vehicle-mounted systems to detect and record motorists who are going over the posted work zone speed limit by 11 miles per hour or more.  “AWZSE” will only be operating in active work zones where workers are present.

Once the device records a vehicle speeding through a zone, a warning letter will be sent for a first offense, a violation notice and $75 fine for a second offense then a violation notice and a $150 fine for the following offenses.  The violations do not result in points on the driver’s license.

PennDOT says last year there were 1,804 work zone crashes in the state resulting in 23 deaths.  43 percent of work zone crashes resulted in fatalities and or injuries.

 

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