The Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT) will begin a pilot program in August to address unsafe driving in construction zones.
The five-year Indiana Safe Zones pilot program will officially start on August 14 in the current I-70 construction zone in Hancock County, between mile markers 95 and 105. There are plans to expand it to three more locations in the future.
Officials will use camera systems to monitor the speed of vehicles in the work zone. If a vehicle is detected traveling 11 mph or more above the posted speed limit, the cameras will capture an image of its rear license plate. Once the images are verified, the vehicle owner will receive a citation by mail.
Drivers speeding through the construction zone will not be cited if no workers are present.
There will be a pre-enforcement period of at least 30 days, during which drivers will receive courtesy notices without fines. After this period, the first violation will result in a warning with no fine, the second violation will incur a $75 civil penalty, and each subsequent violation will carry a $150 penalty.
“The goal of the Safe Zones program is to slow drivers down, reduce crashes, and most importantly, save lives,” said INDOT Commissioner Mike Smith. “Speed continues to be a factor in work zone crashes and changing driver behavior is crucial to making work zones safer for drivers and road workers. For everyone’s safety, I urge drivers to wear their seat belts, avoid distractions and follow the posted speed limit.”
According to INDOT, 269 people have lost their lives in crashes at highway worksites or in worksite backups in Indiana over the past decade.
