Rob Coppersmith, executive vice president of the Michigan Infrastructure & Transportation Association (MITA), issued the following statement after House Regulatory Reform Committee passage of House Bills 4132 and 4133, bipartisan legislation from Rep. Will Snyder (D-Muskegon) and Rep. Mike Mueller (R-Linden) that would allow for the placement of automated speed cameras in construction zones:
“We support this commonsense bipartisan legislation that would keep our construction workers safe while they’re hard at work fixing Michigan’s roads. Construction sites are dangerous places, and when you mix that with distracted driving and high speeds, you’re left with families who lose their loved ones far too soon. This legislation would protect people on both sides of the orange barrel by placing speed cameras in work zones to better enforce speed limits.”
“Other states have led the way with similar legislation that has successfully slowed vehicles down while passing through work zones. In 2021, there were 5,814 work zone crashes alone in Michigan that resulted in 20 work zone fatalities and 1,451 work zone injuries. Keeping our road workers safe is a top priority for MITA. Ensuring our construction workers have safe work zones is a big reason why we have been heavily involved with the Michigan Work Zone Safety Task Force, an effort between the highway construction industry, MITA, and the Michigan Department of Transportation focused on making work zones safe across Michigan. MITA works tirelessly to make sure the safety of our work zones is a top priority, and this legislation is a part of that effort.”
“Crews shouldn’t have to risk their lives on the job. Let’s put the lives and safety of our construction workers first and make sure they are protected while on the job site. We look forward to working with the legislature to ensure our construction workers have a safe day in the office fixing Michigan’s roads.”
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The Michigan Infrastructure & Transportation Association is a statewide trade association that represents a broad spectrum of heavy construction companies and suppliers that help build a better Michigan from the ground up. For more information, visit thinkmita.org.