On Thursday, Maryland Lt. Gov. Aruna Miller testified in favor of the Road Worker Protection Act.
The new bill would raise fines in highway work zones from $40 to $290 for those not following the posted speed limit. Repeat offenders would face up to $1000 in fines.
Additionally, the proposed legislation would add automatic cameras to work zones.
“This legislation protects the men and women who place themselves in harm’s way on the frontline of service – and it is a moral imperative that we protect our road workers who provide a critical public service to our state” Miller said in a news release. “Our administration’s bill utilizes technologies that weren’t available 15 years ago, and strengthens enforcement in order to change driver behavior. By intercepting dangerous driving habits, we can lower the number of crashes and fatalities across Maryland roads – making a safer state for road workers, motorists, passengers, cyclists, and pedestrians.”
The new bill was drafted by a work group led by Miller after six construction workers were killed on the beltway in Woodlawn last March.
According to officials, drivers have become more aggressive on the roads in recent years.
In addition to the proposed legislation, the administration is taking additional actions to implement the recommendations of the work group to make work zones safer and protect those who work on them. At the end of last year, Gov. Moore announced additional actions to increase law enforcement presence in work zones and $500,000 in funding for work zone safety awareness and educational campaigns.
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Source: WBAL.com, Governor.Maryland.Gov
