Harrisburg, PA –The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT), Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission (PA Turnpike), and the Pennsylvania State Police (PSP) hosted an event urging motorists to slow down and pay attention in work zones. Governor Josh Shapiro proclaimed April 21-25, 2025 National Work Zone Awareness Week (NWZAW) as part of his administration’s mission to provide a safe transportation system for all Pennsylvanians. The theme of this year’s NWZAW is “Respect the zone so we all get home.”
Many precautions are taken in work zones to keep workers safe, including proper training and routine safety inspections for workers, enhanced signing and information for motorists, and the use of positive protective equipment like crash trucks, barriers, and rumble strips. Drivers also play a role in keeping workers, themselves, and other motorists safe while traveling through work zones.
“PennDOT implements many safety measures in our work zones, but we need drivers to work with us to ensure work zones are safe for everyone,” said PennDOT Secretary Mike Carroll. “Make the safe choice to always follow the posted speed limit and never drive distracted, especially in work zones where conditions can change every day.”
According to PennDOT data, in 2024 there were 1,250 work zone crashes, resulting in 22 fatalities. Some of the most frequent contributing factors in fatal work zone crashes were driving too fast for conditions, careless passing or lane change, and tailgating.
“Safety drives everything we do at the Pennsylvania Turnpike – especially during construction projects,” said PA Turnpike CEO Mark Compton. “While construction may cause a temporary inconvenience for drivers, these improvements bring long-term benefits for all who use our roadway. Until then, we need drivers to take responsibility for work zone safety and understand the critical role they play protecting both highway workers and drivers.”
“Engaging in dangerous driving behaviors can have deadly consequences, so please remember to slow down, stay alert, and drive responsibly,” said PSP Commissioner Colonel Christopher Paris. “Fines are doubled for specific traffic violations in active work zones. Additionally, Pennsylvania law mandates an automatic 15-day suspension of your driver's license if you exceed the posted speed limit by 11 miles per hour or more.”
“National Work Zone Awareness Week is a powerful reminder that every work zone is occupied by real people – fathers, mothers, sons, daughters, friends and neighbors – working hard to keep Pennsylvania moving forward,” said President of Construction for New Enterprise Stone & Lime Co., Inc. Scott L. Rocuskie, who is also a board member for Associated Pennsylvania Constructors. “Our crews show up daily, trained and equipped to work safely. We are asking the traveling public to do their part. Slowing down, paying attention, and respecting the work zone are not just safe driving habits, but lifesaving decisions.”
Last year, the PA Turnpike and PennDOT teamed up to launch a statewide training program to improve new driver safety and roadway worker protection. Pennsylvania's New Driver Work Zone Safety Program is an online training that uses engaging videos, infographics, knowledge checks, and powerful testimonials to teach new drivers work zone laws, signage, and key facts, in addition to offering real-life scenarios to enhance understanding.
“Work zones aren’t just construction sites—they’re where real people labor, live, and hope to return home safely,” said Carlisle High School Junior Janessa Lingenfelter. “Through my own learning and experiences, I’ve come to see safety not as a rule, but as a shared responsibility. We all play a part, and it starts with being more mindful, more human, and more aware."
As part of today’s event, Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) District 8 officials highlighted more than 62 road and bridge projects expected to be bid this year in the eight-county southcentral Pennsylvania region, reflecting an estimated investment of $402 million. For more information on the 2025 construction season and for a list of notable projects that are expected to begin or continue this year, visit penndot.pa.gov/district8.
This year, the PA Turnpike is investing $500 million in more than 40 projects throughout its system, including several reconstruction projects and the Mon Fayette Expressway expansion. Now that Open Road Tolling is live East of Reading and on the Northeast Extension, the PA Turnpike will be actively removing toll plazas and reconstructing interchange locations through 2026. For more information, visit paturnpike.com/traveling/design-construction.
“These construction projects mean improved roads and bridges, but it can also mean hazards for roadway workers,” said Carroll. “Please slow down and pay attention. These men and women deserve to get home safely.”
In addition to crash data from police reports, PennDOT monitors work zone safety with internal reports. In 2024, there were 481 reported intrusions in PennDOT work zones. Of those work zone intrusions, 13 resulted in injuries to PennDOT employees, 41 caused damage to PennDOT equipment or vehicles, and 427 did not result in injury or damage but had the potential to do so.
The PennDOT and PA Turnpike worker memorials pay tribute to those who have lost their lives while improving and maintaining Pennsylvania’s infrastructure. Since 1970, PennDOT has lost 91 workers in the line of duty. The PA Turnpike has lost 45 workers since 1940.
In Pennsylvania, there are two distinct programs related to active work zones. Under Title 75, Section 3326, motorists caught by police driving 11 mph or more above the posted speed limit in an active work zone, or who are involved in a crash in an active work zone and are convicted for failing to drive at a safe speed, automatically lose their license for 15 days. Additionally, fines for certain traffic violations — including speeding, driving under the influence, and failure to obey traffic devices — are doubled for active work zones. The law also provides for up to five years of additional jail time for individuals convicted of homicide by vehicle for a crash that occurred in an active work zone.
Under Title 75, Section 3369, fines are allowed to be administered through the Work Zone Speed Safety Camera program. The program uses vehicle-mounted systems to detect and record motorists exceeding posted work zone speed limits by 11 miles per hour or more using electronic speed timing devices. Cameras are only operational in active work zones where workers are present. Work Zones that have speed safety cameras present and active will have unique, high-visibility signs in advance of the enforcement area, alerting drivers to the upcoming enforcement. Registered owners receive a warning letter for a first offense, a violation notice and $75 fine for a second offense, and a violation notice and $150 fine for third and subsequent offenses. These violations are civil penalties only; no points are assessed to driver’s licenses. For more information on the Work Zone Speed Safety Camera program, including a list of projects where the units are deployed, visit workzonecameras.penndot.gov.
For more information on work zone safety, visit penndot.pa.gov/safety.
Subscribe to PennDOT news and traffic alerts in your county at penndot.pa.gov/regionaloffices. Find PennDOT’s planned and active construction projects at projects.penndot.gov.
For more information on work zone safety and an opportunity to take the safe-driving pledge, visit idriveorange.com.
MEDIA CONTACTS:
Jennifer Kuntch, PennDOT, jkuntch@pa.gov or 717-705-1551
Myles Snyder, PSP, ra-pspcomm@pa.gov or 717-783-5556
Marissa Orbanek, PA Turnpike, morbanek@paturnpike.com or 267-408-5151
Kim Maiolo, APC, kmaiolo@paconstructors.org or 717-805-7672
###