As 2024 draws to a close, Indianapolis motorists should prepare for a change in how they navigate construction zones. The Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT) announced that its SafeZones speed control pilot program, which aims to deter speeding through automated enforcement, will be introduced in the Clear Path I-465/I-69 interchange come January. After initially being applied in Hancock County, the cameras will now extend their watchful presence to one of the busier construction sites on the northeast side of the city, according to FOX59.
The rationale behind this technology rollout is stark; the excessive speeds recorded in these zones pose a substantial risk to both construction workers and drivers alike. INDOT reports from WRTV indicate that over the past decade, 269 lives were tragically lost in Indiana highway worksite crashes, with 33 fatalities in 2023 alone. "Speed continues to be a problem in the Clear Path work zone," stated INDOT Commissioner Mike Smith, emphasizing the goal of reducing crashes and saving lives. Drivers, said Smith, have been caught moving at "speeds in excess of 60, 70 or even 80-plus miles per hour," far exceeding the posted limits of 40 to 45 mph in these areas, as shared by WRTV.
The SafeZones program involves cameras strategically placed within the construction zone to capture any driver exceeding the speed limit by more than 11 mph. According to INDOT's Kyleigh Cranmer, the program has so far been successful in reducing speeds. This is critical considering construction workers like Tony Moore and John Alsup have reported multiple close calls due to speeding drivers, as detailed by Cranmer to FOX59.
In an effort to impose consequence and caution, the program stipulates that after a penalty-free warning for the first violation, subsequent speeding incidents will result in a $75 ticket, followed by $150 for further infractions, per information from WISH-TV.
Fines collected through this enforcement will be funneled into the Indiana General Fund. Initial data indicates a significant decline in enforceable speeding when cameras and signs are visible, according to INDOT's annual report mentioned by FOX59.
Drivers should be ready for an adjustment period, as INDOT promises a 30-day pre-enforcement warning phase starting January 1, with courtesy notices sent to offending motorists, laying the groundwork for stricter enforcement to follow, as noted by WISH-TV. INDOT's allowance is to have these speed cameras active in up to four construction zones simultaneously, suggesting that the SafeZones initiative could expand further across the state beyond the I-69/I-465 interchange.
