Maybe All Speed Cameras Aren't Bad

An added punishment that should be done is to put violator's in these work zones as traffic goes speeding by them. Chances are most of these people have never had to stand on the side of the road with no place to run as a vehicle comes speeding past too close.

Where I am, fines in work zones double. Too many workers have been injured, or killed by idiots that speed through.

Sadly, $40 is a drop in the hat, and no real incentive to slow down. They should start at $300 and go up from there.

Are they an ACTIVE work zone, or just stretches of highway set up with cones and markers but no workers--in other words a speed trap. I see this all the time, mile after mile of "work zone" with no work being done at all. It's kind of like crying wolf--people see this over and over and figure: "heck, there's nobody working here, why modify my speed." A lot of times these "traffic fines double" rules apply to a "work zone" even at 2 am with no workers present.

I agree that when there are workers present that people need to slow the heck down--many DOT workers are killed every year by careless drivers. But, don't get carried away--only make it a work zone when there's actually workers there!

NP

Unfortunately these cameras do nothing to stop the drunks that account for quite a few DOT people losing their lives.

I'm inclined to agree with you, or at least I was on first thought. But I can't remember how many times I've been traveling down the Interstate at 70 or 75 and, a mile past an exit, I'll see a sign that says "Work zone, next 15 miles". With cones or barrels funneling 2 or 3 lanes of traffic down to 1. Then 5 or 6 miles of barrels but no workers, then maybe 6 or 7 people and one backhoe, then another 5 or 6 miles with just barrels. It almost seems that the contractor has a contract for 15 miles of repairs so he sets up 15 miles of work zone even though he knows that it might be a couple of months before he gets to most of it.

Indiana has a great way of marking work zones. They may setup 15 or 20 miles of barrels with a reduced speed limit, maybe from 70 down to 50 or 55 mph. Then when you get to an occupied work zone, there are flashing lights on a speed limit sign for 40 or 45 mph. If the lights are flashing, there are workers there and you reduce your speed. If the lights are out, it the same as the rest of the zone.

The way it reads, these cameras are only placed at active work sites. But it just boils down to whether one wants to obey the posted speed limits, huh?

Yes but most work zones have workers for only 8 to 12 hours per day. Why make traffic slow to 40 or so when no one is around, say midnight or 2 am? But I'll bet the cameras are still active.

The reason for the slower speed at night is due to uneven lanes,dropoff's on the side or between differnt repair sections, and smaller lanes when they restric you to one lane each way. Also it is harder to see when there is a bump ahead. Just to name a few.

I remember years ago seeing a sign that read somethig like "Slow down - My dad works here" I think there was even a picture of a young girl.

It got my attention and made me think.

Speed cameras do nothing to stop the speeder during that critical moment. This is what concerns me. There should be active law enforcement in hot spots to stop speeders and give them a ticket and correct the behavior right away.

Speed cameras also do not stop road ragers, drunk drivers, bad drivers, etc etc. It is not the right answer.

Most of you people are talking out your rear ends. At least two of the work zones, the one near White Marsh/I895 and the one near the ICC in PG county, have nothing to do with safety and only $$$. The workers are either a) working too far away and up a 50 ft hill from the highway traffic that is being monitored AND/OR b) they are working within a ring of concrete barriers. The workers are not in any danger from the speeders. Heck, they didn't even lower the speed limit in those two work zones from what they were before the construction began. Let there be no doubt that this is all about closing budget gaps by taxing people who use I95 which is one of America's most heavily traveled corridors.

Before anyone jumps the gun I have worked on two major US interstate highway resurfacing projects and the only thing separating me from traffic were some traffic barrels and a few feet. If this was about keeping the road worker safe then I would agree with the use of the cameras but it isn't.

For whatever reason the cameras are set up, most people getting speeding tickets surely will think twice about exceeding the limit again, for a while at least. And at the same time they help reduce my taxes because the scofflaws are picking up the bill...

No, actually people just slow down with traffic through the areas with the photo radar and then speed right back up again.