Tens of thousands of Long Island drivers cited for speeding through highway work zones, data shows

A state speed camera program caught tens of thousands of errant drivers rushing through highway work zones on Long Island during its first full year of operation, accounting for a large chunk of all such citations issued in New York, data shows.

Cameras began recording and fining motorists who violate speed limits in May 2023 as part of the Automated Work Zone Speed Enforcement Program, which was permitted by law in 2021.

During the program’s first 12 months, from May 2023 to May 2024, more than 134,000 citations were issued across New York highway construction sites, with 40%, or over 54,000 of those citations in Nassau and Suffolk counties, according to data from the state Department of Transportation obtained through freedom of information requests. Long Island had 482 cameras deployed during that period, in line with other regions throughout the state, according to state transportation officials.

Glenn Blain, a state transportation spokesman, said in an email the agency prioritizes workers’ safety and all drivers need to be cautious.

"The New York State Department of Transportation is working extensively throughout Long Island on construction and maintenance projects to enhance safety and improve mobility for all users of the transportation network," the statement said.

Automated enforcement efforts

The region’s lengthier construction season and ongoing projects combined with the sheer number of licensed drivers on the roads could explain why so many speeding citations were issued on Long Island, transportation experts and construction industry representatives told Newsday. Experts added that on Long Island, where driving remains the main mode of travel, poor driving habits could be contributing to increased speeding at work sites. Of about 11.6 million licensed drivers in the state, nearly 2.2 million are licensed in Nassau and Suffolk, according to data from the state Department of Motor Vehicles.

Robert Sinclair Jr., a spokesman for AAA Northeast, which was among several groups that supported the automated enforcement effort to protect workers, was stunned to hear so many motorists violated the law on Long Island.

"That's overwhelming," Sinclair said. "The idea that drivers are that careless and irresponsible is upsetting and disheartening, because I thought we had done all we could to get information out there about these laws."

According to the National Work Zone Safety Information Clearinghouse, there were seven fatal crashes at work sites on Long Island from 2019 through 2023, the most recent year of data available by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Run by the state transportation department and the Thruway Authority, the program deploys 20 speed cameras on highways and 10 on the New York State Thruway, where workers are present.

Last year, highway work zones in the state were breached by vehicles 322 times, resulting in two deaths and 138 injuries to highway workers and people traveling, according to state officials. In 2014, there were at least 35 reported intrusions at work zones established by state transportation maintenance crews on Long Island, according to transportation officials. More than 156 crashes took place in Thruway work zones last year, with one fatality and 30 injuries, according to a governor’s news release. 

New York State is expanding its use of automated enforcement with plans to install automated speed cameras on New York City bridges and tunnels. The measure was included in the state budget approved last week. Similar to the work zone speed camera program, fines would start at $50  and escalate to $75 and $100 for subsequent violations within an 18-month period.

Automated enforcement is not always welcome by the public, some of whom see it as a way for government to raise money rather than as a safety initiative.

Lucius Riccio, a former New York City transportation commissioner, said there's no doubt the driving culture must change. Some drivers, he said, see road construction as a hurdle that will cause traffic delays when they should be focusing on it as needed improvement. Riccio said when motorists grumbled about camera enforcement during his tenure, he tried to get them to imagine toiling away surrounded by cars whizzing by. 

"What if I took your desk and put it in the middle lane of the Cross Bronx Expressway? I would put up some safety equipment around you, but those tractor trailers would be going by you at over 50 miles an hour on opposite sides. It's essential that people behave. They should follow the regulations everywhere but especially be on the lookout in a safety zone," Riccio said.

$5.8 million in revenue

Speed cameras on highways generated nearly $5.8 million in revenue, the data provided by the state Department of Transportation shows, with funds first used to cover the costs of administering the program and at least 60% of the remaining money going toward work zone safety projects. Transportation officials did not provide a specific breakdown of how the funds are used.

Among the top 25 top speed violators on New York's highways during the 12-month period, data shows four citations were for motorists on the Island clocking more than 100 mph on the Long Island Expressway, including someone who drove 107 mph in September 2023.

Initially authorized until 2026, the program was extended until 2031 in the state budget, state officials confirmed Tuesday.

Signs leading up to the work zones warn when photo enforcement is underway. The cameras are mounted on SUVs that regularly move to different sites. When vehicles travel at or faster than the posted speed limit, the system takes photos and records the vehicle's speed.

While some construction representatives said there are still too many drivers blowing past posted speed limits, they said the camera enforcement is making some motorists think twice about their pace.

"We are hearing from our members across the state that particularly in areas where the cameras are deployed, they are seeing drivers slow down and take additional care when they are entering the work zone," said Michael Elmendorf, president of the Associated General Contractors of New York State.