New initiative by KY Transporation Cabinet aims to make work zones safer

FRANKFORT, Ky. (FOX 56) — Thousands of people will be hitting the roads Monday following the Labor Day holiday weekend.

As they head back, chances are they’ll encounter at least one work zone.

Earlier this year, the Kentucky General Assembly passed House Bill 664, aimed at making work zones and the roads overall safer.

In 2024, there were more than 1,200 crashes in work zones, resulting in almost 300 injuries and seven deaths.

To help lower those numbers, the transportation cabinet is rolling out new safety cameras in work zones.

These cameras will specifically be targeting how fast drivers are going.

Expected to be rolled out in a few work zones in the coming weeks, they’ll include signage and flashing lights to let a driver know they are nearing one.

If you are caught going more than 10 miles per hour over the posted speed limit, the camera will send an image to law enforcement officers who are in the work zone so they can issue a citation.

“This is something that other states have done and have found success with,” explained KYTC Spokesperson Naitore Djigbenou. “So, there’s been good buy-in, especially from workers. This act, which was sponsored by President Blanton, is called the Jared Lee Helton Act. So, it’s named after a Kentuckian who lost his life in a work zone. At the end of the day, it’s about keeping people safe and making sure they get home.”

Anyone who is caught speeding in a work zone can face fines up to $500, which can increase to $10,000 if the speeding leads to someone being hurt or killed.

In a press release following the announcement of the work zone cameras, Chad Larue, Executive Director for the Kentucky Association of Highway Contractors, said contractors and crews put their lives on the line every day to make Kentucky’s roads better for everyone, so they deserve safe working conditions.

Djigbenou says these cameras are solely focused on safety.

“This initiative is not about issuing tickets, it’s about saving lives,” Djigbenou outlined. “We know that work zones usually mean you’re going to have to slow down, and if you’re doing the right thing, then this won’t impact you at all. So, we just encourage people to be patient, to give our workers a literal break when they’re going through work zones and make sure everyone will get home safe.”

It is important to note that while you should always follow the posted speed limit, work zone or not, these cameras alert law enforcement that you are speeding.

It is the officer who pulls you over and gives you a citation for violating the law. These cameras will not send you a ticket via the mail at a later date.