New York State Police issued close to 1,000 violations to drivers traveling through work zones during National Work Zone Awareness Week (NWZAW).
State troopers conduct “Operation Hard Hat” enforcement each year in work zones statewide during NWZAW’s five-day campaign — this year from April 20 to 24 — according to the Amherst Bee. This year’s enforcement effort resulted in 967 citations, a 35% increase over last year.
In some of the 12 enforcement locations, troopers were disguised as highway workers within active construction zones to better detect unsafe driving behaviors.
According to Gothamist, 160 tickets were issued under New York’s Move Over Law, which requires drivers to slow down or move over when approaching stopped vehicles on the roadside — an 84% increase from last year.
Speeding accounted for the largest share of citations, with 401 tickets issued, up 33% from the previous year.
State police also issued 138 distracted driving violations, 36 seat belt violations, 17 traffic control violations and 214 additional vehicle and traffic offenses, Amherst Bee reported.
The highest number of tickets came from enforcement along the New York State Thruway, where troopers issued 309 citations — roughly one-third of all tickets handed out during the week.
The enforcement campaign was conducted by New York State Police, the New York State Thruway Authority and the New York State Department of Transportation.
The most recent data released by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) recorded 850 work zone fatalities in 2024, including 673 driver and passenger deaths and 169 pedestrian and cyclist fatalities.
The 2024 figures marked a decline from 2023, when 905 total work zone fatalities were reported.
FHWA data also found that 22% of fatal work zone crashes in 2024 involved rear-end collisions, 31% involved large trucks or buses and speeding contributed to 34% of fatal crashes.
Sources: Amherst Bee, Gothamist, FHWA
