Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer recently signed a measure to permit the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) to install automated speed enforcement systems in work zones to penalize speeding motorists.
House Bill 4132 enables MDOT to create an enforcement unit and establish criteria for prioritizing work zones for installation. Signs will be placed one mile before the work zone, displaying the speed of approaching vehicles.
Although initially passed by the House last year, the bill lingered in the Senate until recently. It establishes a Work Zone Safety Fund and indicates a small cost for the program, similar to Illinois, which allocates $500,000 annually for its version.
The program will allow MDOT to adjust enforcement levels based on its budget and recover costs from fines. A companion measure, House Bill 4133, requires these fines to be paid to MDOT.
In 2022, Michigan experienced over 7,400 work zone crashes, resulting in 1,928 injuries and 23 fatalities. This increased to over 8,000 crashes last year. Proponents of the speed enforcement systems believe they will enhance work zone safety.
Be the first to comment