CLEARFIELD – PennDOT is conducting an online survey to measure public awareness of Pennsylvania’s work zone laws.
The 11-question survey asks drivers about their knowledge of work zone driving requirements and penalties for violating the law. To take the survey, visit PennDOT’s survey page and click on the work zone survey link.
Active work zones have workers present and are distinguished by a flashing light mounted on a sign that reads “Active Work Zone When Flashing.”
Motorists can be cited for traveling over the posted speed limit in an active work zone. Also, fines and points are doubled in all active work zones.
Motorists who are caught speeding 11 miles per hour or more above the posted limit receive a 15-day driver’s license suspension. Drivers also receive a 15-day suspension if they are involved in a crash in an active work zone and are cited for failing to drive at a safe speed. Last year, there were 414 license suspensions for work zone law violations in Pennsylvania.
As an additional deterrent to unsafe driving in work zones, Pennsylvania law also allows for courts to tack on an additional 5-year jail sentence if a motorist is convicted of homicide by vehicle while traveling in an active work zone.
Motorists are also required to turn on their headlights, or their vehicles must be equipped with daytime running lamps, when driving through certain work zones or face a fine of $25.This secondary law can be enforced when individuals are stopped for primary moving violations.Not all work zones are subject to the headlight provision. Moving operations such as traffic line painting and projects on low-traffic volume roads are exempt.
PennDOT will use the results of the survey to determine what, if any, changes can be made to work zone signing, speed limits or lighting to help improve safety.
Last year, in Pennsylvania there were 1,885 crashes and 30 fatalities in highway work zones.
For more information, visit PennDOT’s homepage.
