State Police Begin Crackdown on Speeding in Construction Zones

State troopers are set to boost patrols along the New York State Thruway during “Operation Work Brake,” which cracks down on speeding and aggressive driving before, in, and after construction zones.

The five-day initiative begins Monday, April 29, and continues through Friday, May 3, according to the Thruway Authority. This enforcement, which is held three times annually, was created by State Police following the Work Zone Safety Act of 2005. The Act called for a strategy of active enforcement on major highway construction work zones to protect workers.

The Thruway Authority says road crews face constant dangers every day in work zones. Motorists who speed, drive distracted or are simply careless when traveling in a work zone pose a great safety risk to highway workers as well as other drivers, according to the agency. 

In 2012, Tarrytown-based State Police Troop T issued approximately 1,353 tickets for hazardous violations in and around active work zones. In 2012, the Thruway reported there were 222 accidents in work zones.