NEW YORK (WBEN) - On Wednesday, the New York State Thruway Authority held a virtual public hearing to discuss legislation that will establish a work zone speed camera pilot program.
The legislation, which has been signed into law by Governor Kathy Hochul, authorizes the Thruway Authority to create up to 10 work zone speed violation pilot locations along the Thruway, and the program is scheduled to last five years.
According to Matthew Driscoll, executive director of the Thruway Authority, these locations will be determined by data including speed, roadway geometry, and crash history.
"Unfortunately, there are motorists who do not heed advanced notices on variable message boards...and continue to enter these work zones at excessive and unsafe speeds," said Driscoll. "Our highway crews' lives are in peril because of this behavior."
According to the Federal Bureau of Labor Statistics, from 2003 to 2017, 1,844 workers lost their lives at road construction sites across the United States, averaging 123 per year.
"During 2020 alone, there were more than 400 intrusions into New York State DOT work zones," added DOT Chief of Staff Todd Westhuis. "These vehicle intrusions resulted in more than 130 injuries and one fatality."
Driscoll cited a similar program implemented in Maryland in 2010, saying the results point to a dramatic increase in speed compliance.
Related
"When the program began, seven out of every 100 drivers were exceeding the posted speed limit by 12 miles per hour or more," said Driscoll. "A 2021 fact sheet about the program indicated the number of speeding vehicles in work zones has been reduced by about 90% since it began."
While a vast majority of speakers at Wednesday's hearing spoke in staunch support of the program, some concerns were raised. One person wanted assurance the cameras would only be active when the worksite is active. Another brought up concerns about due process and how owners may be unfairly punished if someone else happened to be driving their vehicle.
Of course, there's already local skepticism about the program considering the failed school zone speed camera program that was implemented and subsequently canceled earlier this year.
"It's an easy way for governments to raise revenue, and there might not be any sound basis for it," said Attorney Kevin Stocker. "The things that bring into question are the cameras and whether the devices they're using to estimate speeds, whether they're calibrated correctly...when you have 10 cars, how the instrument would be able to isolate one particular car out of the 10."
There will be a 30-day grace period once the camera program is implemented. In order to move forward in the implementation process, the Thruway Authority was required to host Wednesday's hearing and now must be approved by the Board of Directors.