State Rep. Jim Pressel's (R-Rolling Prairie) legislation improving Hoosier highway worksite safety by boosting speed enforcement advanced to the Indiana Senate today.
Pressel, chair of the House Roads and Transportation Committee, said he authored House Bill 1015 to launch a pilot program to place automated speed enforcement cameras in up to four active work zones to deter speeding and save lives. According to the Indiana Department of Transportation, 31 deaths and 1,426 injuries occurred in work zones last year. A total of 7,047 work-zone crashes were reported in 2022.
"The number of speed-related casualties and injuries in our state's construction areas is unacceptable and it's time to do more to help," Pressel said. "Simply slowing down through work zones can save lives, and speed cameras have proven to drive down the number of crashes in other states. This pilot program would be a great tool to encourage Hoosier drivers to pay more attention."
As part of the pilot program, civil penalties for offenses caught on camera would include a written warning for the first violation, a $75 fine for the second violation and a $150 fine for the third violation. Citations would be issued to those traveling at least 11 miles over the work zone speed limit with workers present.
Pressel said photos could only be taken of the rear of the vehicle to capture the license plate, and the photos could not be used beyond their purpose of issuing speeding citations unless authorized by court order. In addition, red light cameras will continue to be prohibited as part of this legislation.
To gauge the pilot program's effectiveness, key data on the number of accidents, injuries and violations issued, would be gathered and reported to legislators by 2028. At least 10 states have legislatively authorized speed cameras to be utilized in highway work or construction zones. According to the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, their automated work zone speed enforcement program has led to a 25% reduction of fatal crashes in work zones.
To learn more about HB 1015 as it advances to Indiana Senate, visit iga.in.gov.
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State Rep. Jim Pressel (R-Rolling Prairie) represents House District 20,
which includes portions of LaPorte and Starke counties.
Click here to download a high-resolution photo.
