Mar 12, 2024 By Jon Andreassi 3 min read

After a five-year pilot program, Pennsylvania drivers can expect to continue seeing cameras enforcing the speed limit in work zones.

The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) announced this week that state police would begin enforcement on the Work Zone Safety Camera program. Gov. Josh Shapiro signed H.B. 1284 on Dec. 14, which made the pilot camera program permanent.

In a press release, PennDOT Secretary Mike Carroll said the purpose of the program is to make work zones safer for both drivers and workers.

“Data from the pilot program shows it was successful, and we’re pleased that it’s now a permanent program in Pennsylvania,” Carroll said.

According to PennDOT, over the last five years there has been a 38% reduction in speeding in a work zone, meaning a driver was going at least 1 mph over the limit, and a 47% reduction in “excessive” speeding, which means a driver was going at least 11 mph over the limit.

If a driver is caught by one of the speed enforcement vehicles, they will receive a warning in the mail, a $75 fine for a second offense and a $150 fine for subsequent offenses.

With the legislation signed by Shapiro, anyone who received a warning or fine during the pilot program will have their violations reset to zero.

The law also makes adjustments to how frequently drivers can be ticketed. If a camera catches someone speeding, they will not receive a second violation until 15 days after the mail date of the first violation.

Pennsylvanians can check on where cameras have been posted and whether they are still active at workzonecameras.penndot.gov.

According to data provided by PennDOT, in 2021 there were 39 camera deployments in Washington County that resulted in 730 violations, while Fayette County had 21 cameras and 1,836 violations.

PennDOT did not set up any cameras in Greene County in 2020 or 2021. Fayette also had no active cameras in 2021.

Numbers provided for Washington County in 2021 and 2022 include all violations that came as a result of drivers speeding through construction on the Southern Beltway project, which includes a portion of Allegheny County.

In 2021, including the Southern Beltway there were 161 camera deployments, and 68,718 violations issued. The following year there were half as many cameras, and more than 18,000 violations.

In 2023, the final year for the pilot program, Fayette and Washington counties did not have any traffic cameras, but Greene County had 10, resulting in 18 speeding violations.

According to PennDOT, the camera program runs at a deficit. Fines generated more than $7.2 million for the state transportation agencies, but the program costs about $2.5 million more than that to operate.

PennDOT uses this fact to emphasize that the goal of the project is about safety in work zones.

“This program is not about revenue – it’s not about issuing violations – it’s about saving lives,” reads a statement from PennDOT. “We would rather issue no violations and see all motorists travel safely through every work zone.”

According to PennDOT, 14 people died in 2022 as a result of 1,293 work zone crashes. There have been 90 PennDOT workers killed in accidents since 1970. The Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission has had 45 workers die in work zone accidents dating back to 1945.

“Many injuries and fatalities in work zones can be prevented if drivers simply slow down, and that’s the goal of this program,” said Pennsylvania State Police Director of the Bureau of Patrol Major Robert Krol in the press release. “The cameras have been effective in making our work zones safer, and we look forward to seeing additional results from the program’s full-time implementation.”