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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE April 18, 2025 |
WEST GARDINER – National Work Zone Awareness Week (NWZAW) is being observed from Monday, April 21 through Friday, April 25. For 25 years, NWZAW has brought attention to the deadly consequences of driver inattention in highway work zones. This year’s theme is “Respect the zone so we all get home.”
In Maine, there are typically 500-600 work zone crashes each year, and fatalities in work zones have been trending upward. The leading causes of these crashes continue to be speeding, following too closely, and distracted driving.
Today, Maine Turnpike Authority (MTA), Maine Department of Transportation (MaineDOT), Maine State Police, AAA Northern New England, and the Associated General Contractors of Maine (AGC) joined together to highlight the importance of driving safely in work zones.
According to research from the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, most crashes involving roadside workers are caused by drivers who are speeding, distracted, or impaired. This underscores a critical reminder: when you're behind the wheel, stay focused, stay sober, and slow down—especially when approaching workers roadside.
John Cannell, Director of Highway and Equipment Maintenance at MTA highlighted some recent crashes with damaged vehicles on hand as a stark reminder of the dangers of work zones. “In these cases, our crew members were able to walk away, shaken but alive, we all need to do everything we can to protect our workers on the road,” said Cannell.
“Work zones aren’t just construction sites, they’re someone’s workplace,” said Maine State Police Sgt. Seth Allen. “Every day, Troopers see just how dangerous it is when drivers speed, get distracted, or ignore signs in these areas. Respect the zone so we can all get home safely.”
To enhance work zone safety and deter speeding, a bipartisan bill, LD 1457, titled Resolve to Allow the Maine Turnpike Authority to Conduct a Pilot Program to Implement Automated Speed Control Systems in Highway Work Zones, proposes a pilot program to use automated speed control systems in highway work zones. Under this system, a vehicle exceeding the posted speed limit by 11 miles per hour or more in a highway work zone would trigger the system to capture an image of the vehicle and its license plate. A notice of violation would then be sent to the registered owner. The first offense would result in a warning, and any second or subsequent offense would result in a fine.
A public hearing on LD 1457 will be held by the Legislature’s Transportation Committee on April 23.