Work zone cameras about saving lives, not issuing fines
I never could have imagined that public and work zone safety would turn into a contentious debate on the front page of The Hartford Courant without input from the workers this legislation is designed to protect. The focus of the article was more about the fines rather than the reality of what it’s like working in extreme danger on our highways and bridges.
I am the president of the Connecticut Employees Union Independent (CEUI Local 511) and I have dedicated 23 years to state service, 16 of which were with the Department of Transportation (DOT). CEUI represents roughly 4,000 public-sector service and maintenance workers across Connecticut, including the 1,500 men and women of the DOT whose lives and safety have been my No. 1 concern. Unfortunately, our highways have become so dangerous because drivers refuse to put down their phones or slow down unless there’s a possibility of being ticketed, and if these cameras save even one of our members’ lives and prevent a crash, I consider it a success. My hope is that not a single speeding ticket will be sent out and drivers finally learn to respect the lives and safety of people plowing, trimming trees, and repairing roads and bridges.
The Work Zone Speed Camera Pilot Program is a huge victory for the folks who have seen a dramatic increase of highway accidents in the past two years — they deserve to work without fear of losing their lives on the job. Earlier this year, DOT Commissioner Joseph Giulietti included horrifying statistics in his personal testimony supporting this bill. He said that during the 2019 construction season the DOT recorded 1,045 accidents within work zones involving 2,094 vehicles, and that “the majority of these incidents can be directly connected to excessive speed.”
Our members, my colleagues, and the union have been aware of statistics like these for years. These statistics are one of the reasons this legislation was finally able to pass, and I have no doubt we will see this program’s success over the next year. Our union has been working for years on this legislation to protect the lives of our members, and it is disappointing that The Courant has not reached out to the workers or its representatives to be a part of the conversation.
These workers are not just a statistic or a fine to avoid paying; we should not lose sight of the real impact on the lives of those affected by work zone crashes.
When this legislation passed, it was to ensure we would never again see 2,094 vehicles crash with mothers, fathers, sisters and brothers whose families depended on them to come home safely at the end of the day. It is my duty and responsibility as a union president to protect and advocate for the safety of all workers and travelers on our roads, the Work Zone Speed Camera bill will help make our roads safer for everyone, as it has done in other states.