Drivers will see a small SUV or van similar to the one above in work zones where WSDOT is using Automated Traffic Safety Camera for speed enforcement.

An operator will send license plate photos of speeding drivers to the Washington State Patrol. An infraction will come in the mail.

The Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) received Legislative approval (see sec. 216) for a pilot project to put Automated Traffic Safety Cameras (ATSC) in work zones when workers are present.

WSDOT believes the speed enforcement cameras will slow drivers to make work zones safer for workers, drivers and passengers.

We encourage citizens to send WSDOT comments
on the program.

How does it work?

WSDOT launched the initial ATSC pilot project September 15, 2008 on an Interstate 5 widening project in the Chehalis  area known for speed violations.

Located in an SUV within an active construction work zone, the ATSC radar and camera unit records the speed and photographs the rear license plate of vehicles speeding through the work zone. An operator monitors the system and forwards violator information to the Washington State Patrol (WSP).

The WSP then checks the vehicle registration, forwards the information to the local court system and the vehicle's registered owner receives a $137 citation. 

From September 15 to  October 24, 2008, the SUV was active in the 60 m.p.h. work zone. More than 1,400 violations were issued, there were zero traffic incidents and 90 percent of drivers were traveling less than 70 m.p.h.

From May 4 to June 30, 2009 the cameras were used in the 60 mph construction zone widening Interstate 5 south of Olympia near Grand Mound. More than 1,900 infractions were issued.

The initial pilot deployment ended June 30, 2009. The legislature granted an extension of the program to June 30, 2013 but WSDOT has not redeployed the system yet.

WSDOT expects to deploy the system in Summer 2012; the location to be determined. When active, signs (as seen above right) notify drivers of camera enforcement through the work zone.

Lower speeds means less collisions and less congestion

Speed is the number one reason for collisions in Washington. In 2009, speeding drivers caused nearly 21,000 traffic incidents on state highways.

There are close to 2,000 traffic incidents each year in state highway work zones. While the high-profile incidents are decreasing, those smaller incidents that block traffic and cause minor injuries keep going up.

Between 2004 and 2009, state route work zone collisions increased by close to 52 percent, from 1,174 in 2004 to 2,259 in 2009. The top two reasons for work zone crashes are speeding and inattentive driving and, one of the top collision types in work zones is the rear-end collision during daylight hours.

Slow Down: Protect the worker, yourself and your pocketbook

WSDOT's Give 'em a Brake program may focus on worker safety and how drivers should watch out for workers, but the majority of work zone fatalities and injuries are drivers and passengers (non-workers) - accounting for 99 percent of the total in 2009.

Injuries to driver and passenger injuries in work zones have increased by close to 30 percent since 2004, while there was only one flagger/roadway worker killed on a state highway from 2004 to 2009.

As the weather warms and more workers are out on Washington's roadways, the incidents increase each month - with more incidents in August than any other month.

Tips for Driving in a Work Zone:

• Observe the posted speed limit (60 mph) and don’t do anything except drive while you’re in the work zone.
• Don’t use your cell phone
• Don’t eat or drink
• Don’t change CD’s or radio stations
• Don’t tailgate! Leave plenty of room between you and the vehicle in front of you.

To read more facts and tips on driving through a work zone, please visit our “Give ‘Em A Brake” website.

For more information, contact: Alice Fiman, WSDOT Communications, (360) 705-7080.