INDOT launching pilot program in August to improve work zone safety

The Indiana Department of Transportation announced it's launching Indiana Safe Zones, a five-year worksite speed control pilot program authorized by House Enrolled Act 1015 during the 2023 legislative session, starting on Wednesday, August 14.

Officials say the camera technology will initially be deployed in the current I-70 construction zone in Hancock County, between mile markers 95 to 105.

INDOT says deployment will start with a pre-enforcement warning period where no violations will be issued, but courtesy warnings will be sent.

Officials add that more worksites will be added to the program over time, and INDOT may deploy cameras in up to four sites at any given time. 

"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.”

How Indiana Safe Zones will work:

• Signs will be posted as motorists enter and exit worksites notifying them that speed limits are being monitored by an automated system.
• The system will monitor the speed of vehicles using speed timing devices as they pass through the work zone. When a vehicle is determined to be traveling 11 mph or more above the posted speed limit, the system will capture an image of the vehicle’s rear license plate. After the data is validated, violations will be certified and issued to the owner of the vehicle by mail.
• After the pre-enforcement period ends, the first violation will result in a zero-fine warning, the second in a $75 civil penalty, and every violation thereafter a penalty of $150. In accordance with the statute, collected penalties will go into the state’s General Fund.
• Workers must be present at the site at the time of the event for violations to be valid.

Officials say data collected by Indiana Safe Zones will be used only for this program and won't be used for surveillance or other law enforcement purposes.

INDOT will share annual reports during the five-year pilot program with members of the Indiana General Assembly and the traveling public.

INDOT officials cite similar programs around the country have significantly improved work zone safety.

According to officials, two years after Maryland launched its program, speeding violations in construction sites fell by over 80 percent and incidents of worksite-related crashes, fatalities, and injuries were at their lowest in over 10 years.

To learn more about Indiana Safe Zones, active locations, and answers to frequently asked questions, visit here.