A workgroup in Maryland has recently been formed to improve safety conditions of highway work zones throughout the state.
Maryland Lt.-Gov. Aruna Miller, who chairs the group, was at the most recent meeting. She said there are a number of ways to get drivers to slow down in work zones, which include increasing fines and the use of speed cameras.
“Maryland statute requires that speed cameras have to be manned, which kind of limits our ability to have more speed cameras, so we are hoping to introduce legislation to have the general assembly take a look at it,” Miller said. “Increasing the citation amount for speeding near a construction site. Modernizing technology, surrounding how our work zones are set up."
The Work Zone Safety Work Group was formed in April after six construction workers were killed on the Baltimore beltway.
According to a news release, there are an average of 1,000 roadway workers at more than 300 work sites in Maryland on any given day.
"Highway workers deserve to come home to their loved ones at the end of the day, like all Maryland workers do," Miller said. "It's not a matter of if they will see your crash on their job site, it's a matter of when."
The group hopes to have their recommendations by the end of the year.
Find more about when the group holds meetings and how to RSVP on the Maryland state website.
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Source: Wbal.com
