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<p>WILKES-BARRE &#8212; A new law that cracks down on speeding in work zones was signed by Gov. Tom Wolf on Friday.</p><p>Some 40 percent of all work zone crashes involve speeding, and crashes in work zones on interstates and the Pennsylvania Turnpike increased from 618 in 2012 to 1,008 in 2016.</p><p>Statewide, there has been a 5 percent increase in the average annual rate of work zone crashes from 2012 to 2016, increasing from 1,661 in 2012 to 2,075 in 2016.</p><p>The governor Friday signed Senate Bill 172 &#8212; the Automated Speed Enforcement in Work Zones legislation &#8212; which aims to deter speeding in work zones and ultimately improve motorist and roadway worker safety.</p><p>&#8220;Crashes, injuries, and deaths that occur because of speeding are completely preventable, and this law is a major step in enhancing safety in Pennsylvania&#8217;s work zones,&#8221; Wolf said in a news release.</p><p>The new law has three key provisions, one of which allows PennDOT and Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission to perform a five-year pilot program in which some construction and maintenance work zones will have cameras equipped with LIDAR or radar to take photos of license plates of any vehicle exceeding the work zone speed limit by 11 mph or more when workers are present.</p><p>If a violation is committed, a Pennsylvania State Police representative will review it and then a notice of violation will be issued to the registered vehicle owner. The first violation is a warning, the second violation results in a $75 fine, and the third and subsequent violation means a $150 fine.</p><p>Violations will not be subject to driving points or merit rating for insurance purposes. The law allows PennDOT and the PTC to choose which contractor or work zones to use in the pilot. Special signage advising motorists of the camera enforcement have to be erected at the affected areas.</p><p>&#8220;I am thrilled that the Legislature and governor have taken this step that aims to save the lives of our employees, motorists, and our partners in the contracting community,&#8221; said PennDOT Secretary Leslie S. Richards. &#8220;We have seen some speeds in work zones that are simply unacceptable, and we are confident that this tool will drive down speeding violations.&#8221;</p><p>PennDOT, the Turnpike Commission, and the Pennsylvania State Police are working to develop a Request for Proposals for a vendor to administer the system and provide the hardware. The selected vendor will be compensated per a flat fee and not per violation.</p><p>Information on work-zone laws and safety in Pennsylvania is available at www.penndot.gov/safety in the &#8220;Work Zone&#8221; traffic safety and driver topic page. </p><style>
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<div class="neCaption">Wolf </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/web1_PA-Gov-tornado-tour-3CMYK-4-.jpg</photo0><caption0>Wolf </caption0><photoCredit0></photoCredit0></div></div>
<div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By Bill O&#8217;Boyle</p><p>boboyle@www.timesleader.com</p></bylineMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><shirttailMeta><p>Reach Bill O&#8217;Boyle at 570-991-6118 or on Twitter @TLBillOBoyle.</p></shirttailMeta></div>

Wolf signs legislation to crack down on speeding in work zones