ANGLES THE CAMERAS PICTURED HERE AND LEFT DEPICT RADAR CAMERAS— ANOTHER TYPE OF TECHNOLOGY USED. THESE CAMERAS ARE USED TO ELECTRONICALLY IDENTIFY VEHICLES TRAVELING AT A SPEED ABOVE A DETERMINED AMOUNT. THEY HAVE THE ABILITY TO CAPTURE AN IMAGE OF THE VEHICLE, AND IN SOME CASES, THE DRIVER. CAMERA T H R E E WORK ZONE SAFETY AND TECHNOLOGY COME TOGETHER Work zones are extraordinary places. They change normal traffic patterns and place people on or near the roadway— factors that too few drivers anticipate. Add to the mix distracted drivers, speeders, and inclement weather, and the existing dangers become more risky for everyone on the road. In 2015, there were an estimated 96,626 crashes in active work zones across the U.S. In 2014, there were 669 fatalities due to work zone crashes. It is an ongoing challenge to increase awareness and accountability among motorists when it comes to distracted driving and speeding. Some states have implemented automated enforcement programs, such as work zone cameras. Washington, Illinois, and Maryland have implemented legislation that allows for the use of speed-enforcement cameras in work zones and have seen a measurable impact on speed violations. These programs are not designed to replace traditional enforcement methods relating to traffic violators but to help extend enforcement capabilities for more emergent issues while changing driver behavior to make work zones safer. T W O BEHIND THE LENS: INTRODUCTION TO THE TECHNOLOGY To understand the topic, it’s important to understand the technology first. The high-speed camera technology most commonly used is “lidar”—short for “light detection and ranging.” A lidar camera emits a beam across the roadway to measure the speed of passing vehicles. Should a person be driving above the posted speed limit, the camera takes a photo of the rear license plate. Cameras can be deployed for mobile setup by installing them in marked or unmarked police vehicles parked alongside the roadway. They can also be placed in fixed positions for long-term monitoring of work zone projects or even at key intersections and stretches of freeways. Photo courtesy of Gatso USA. Photo courtesy of Gatso USA.