This article originally appeared in Upper Michigan’s Source. Read more here.
According to the Michigan State Police, Michigan recorded over 8,000 construction work-zone-related crashes with 24 fatalities in 2023.
To make work zones a little safer, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer signed two bills into law on Tuesday to implement work zone safety cameras on state highways.
Michigan Infrastructure and Transportation Association (MITA) Vice President of Government Affairs Lance Binoniemi says states that adopted similar laws saw success with their programs.
“We have found that not only do speeds change, but people start to pay more attention as they’re aware that they are being monitored by a camera within their speed,” said Binoniemi. “That’s all that we ask – that motorists change their behavior and really pay attention to those individuals who are on the other side of the orange barrels.”
MITA hopes crews will start using cameras in road work zones by the 2025 construction season but says it could take until 2026 to fully take effect.