New York State has announced that troopers and another law enforcement agencies issued 444 tickets during the first week of Operation Hardhat, an initiative between law enforcement agencies, the New York State Department of Transportation and the New York State Thruway Authority, to crack down on work zone violations and highlight the importance of safe driving through construction, maintenance and emergency operations along state highways.
Operation Hardhat details were held in almost every region of New York State in support of National Work Zone Awareness Week. The enforcement and educational efforts come as New York State continues to experience a rising number of work zone intrusions, including three recent crashes that injured six highway workers.
During Operation Hardhat, members of law enforcement patrol Department of Transportation and Thruway Authority work zones to enforce work zone speed limits and ensure that motorists are obeying flagging personnel.
The 444 tickets issued during Operation Hardhat included the following violations:
• Speeding – 81
• Seatbelts – 41
• Cell Phone – 135
• Failure to Move Over – 47
• Failure to Obey Traffic Control Device – 1
• Other violations – 139
Operation Hardhat details resulted in violations in almost every region of the state, including:
• Hudson Valley – 161
• Long Island – 59
• Capital Region – 53
• Central New York – 46
• Southern Tier – 44
• Mohawk Valley – 37
• Western New York – 26
• North Country – 18
Maintenance crews across the state work alongside fast-moving traffic each day, knowing their lives depend on drivers being alert, patient and cautious. It is critically important that motorists eliminate distractions, pay attention to driving and move over for workers.
As construction season begins this spring-summer, maintenance and work crews will be out on the road performing repairs and improvements to ensure roads are safe for motorists. All travelers should be prepared to reduce speeds and to be alert when passing through work zones.
