A state pilot program aimed at slowing down vehicles traveling in work zones takes the right approach: It’s about safety, not speeding tickets.

The test period begins this month for the Automated Work Zone Speed Enforcement program, which was approved by the state Legislature in 2018. The testing by the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation and the Pennsylvania Turnpike involves having a private contractor place monitoring vehicles — white Jeep Cherokee SUVs — in designated work zones whose locations will be posted on a special website. Two 4-foot-square signs will warn drivers they are approaching a work zone where speed will be monitored and photos taken of license plates.

If the monitoring equipment determines someone is going more than 11 mph over the speed limit, the motorist receives a notice by mail with a warning for a first violation. Subsequent incidents of speeding in a work zone bring fines of $75 for a second offense and $150 for future offenses. There will be no violations issued during the test period; enforcement begins in March.

Reflecting the program’s emphasis on safety over fines, the penalties are treated as civil violations and no points will be added to a driver’s license.

In short, motorists will have plenty of warnings — from the location postings on a website to the presence of monitoring equipment to display signs — that speed will be monitored in the work zones and there’s little excuse for not slowing down. Imagine if the infamous “speed traps” set up on local roads came with advance online warnings and display signs just outside the monitoring area.

A PennDOT official made it clear that the program is not meant to create an “I got you” situation, but instead is focused on making work zones safer.

And that concern comes with good reason. Work zone accidents on Pennsylvania highways in 2018 totaled 2,804 and included 23 fatalities. Since 1970, 89 PennDOT workers have died in work zone accidents.

Turnpike officials said that pretesting of the program in November found about 10% of drivers would have received violations. That number is expected to drop significantly once the program is fully implemented after the 60-day test period.

Work zones on interstate highways are dangerous areas for workers because of the volume of traffic. The automated program being tested provides ample warning — and incentive — for drivers to slow down.

First Published: January 9, 2020, 11:15 a.m.