Police, PennDOT Cracking Down On Work Zone Speeding

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) -- Police and PennDOT put out a warning and promised tough punishment for drivers who don't slowdown in construction zones, but it appears few drivers are getting the message.

So, now officials are taking action.

"We really, really want to stress that people need to slow down," said PennDOT's Dan Cessna.

To that end, PennDOT and the state police announced last week a major crackdown on those who might scoff at the 45 mile per hour speed limit.

"At 11 miles per hour over, you are risking an accident and can lose your license for 15 days," said Trooper Robin Mungo, of Pennsylvania State Police.

Overall, since the barricades went up, Cessna says, "We believe driver behavior has been much improved. It is working."

But Cessna also says the enforcement crackdown is crucial for safety.

"We have had incidents where troopers have made traffic stops and issued citations," Trooper Mungo said.

But the very characteristics that make the zone dangerous also create enforcement problems.

"Obviously, we can't sit in the construction zone just because of the way it's designed," said Trooper Mungo. "But if we're sitting on the front end or the back of the construction zone, it's still a construction zone until you see the sign that you're out of it."

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