State lawmakers approved the rollout of speed cameras in construction and work zones in reaction to the number of accidents. Last year alone, more than 1,300 crashes occurred in the zones, resulting in 185 injuries and seven deaths in Kentucky.
LEX18 reports one of the first camera installations will be in Lexington on U.S. 25 — with others following along I-75 in Laurel and Whitley counties, I-64 in Shelby County, and other sites in Eastern Kentucky.
As we ramp up the program over the next several years, we expect to see a lot more.Alan Blair, Kentucky Transportation Cabinet spokesperson
Once in place, the zones with cameras will feature flashing signs warning drivers. But the system won't be one that sends out tickets to violators through email or snail mail.
Instead, Kentucky Transportation Cabinet spokesman Alan Blair says the cameras will alert police officers further down the road immediately.
"The law is very clear. It will be a live traffic stop if you get pulled over for speeding in a work zone based on the radar and camera data that is transmitted to the officer," he explained.
As for where and how many camera outfitted sites to expect, Blair said that number will grow over time.
"As we ramp up the program over the next several years, we expect to see a lot more," he added.
The new cameras were approved by the General Assembly this year in House Bill 664 or the Jared Lee Helton Act, named after a highway worker killed in a work zone accident.
To learn more, visit https://kentuckyhighwaysafety.com/work-zone-safety/.