'This is not a money grab, this is a safety grab,' NYS DOT Commissioner draws awareness to roadworker safety and enforcement
HORSEHEADS, N.Y. (WETM) — Roadwork season is ramping up across the Southern Tier, and New York State. With that comes the dangers to crews who work just feet from speeding vehicles on the highways. As part of National Workforce Awareness Week, motorists are advised to pay attention and slow down in work zones.
During a news conference on Thursday, April 24, in Horseheads, New York State Department of Transportation Commissioner Marie Therese Dominguez spoke on the importance of workforce safety for highway crews and what motorists need to do when entering a work zone.
'We need drivers, all drivers, to do their part and exercise caution, and exercise patience,' Therese Dominguez said. 'The last thing we want is another incident like the one that was captured on film over on (Interstate) 81 near Whitney Point last year when a driver who was driving a rented truck literally blew through the work zone and almost killed our highway maintenance worker,' she said.
Therese Dominguez said transportation workers face a variety of threats every day when working on the highways. Speeders, people not paying attention or not moving over in a work zone, and even harassment and assault from frustrated motorists, Therese Dominguez said. These are only some of the challenges that DOT workers and other construction crews come across while working on the roads.
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'All across New York you're going to be seeing a lot more presence of DOT workers out on the roadways because this is the time for us to do our job, we're out there working,' said Therese Dominguez. 'Pay attention to what you're doing, put your phones down, recognize there are people out on the roadway doing a job, and you need to make sure you keep them safe,' she said.
In 2024, 322 intrusions were reported in NYS DOT work zones, resulting in two driver deaths and 138 injuries, unacceptable numbers, according to Therese Dominguez.
There have been 58 DOT worker deaths while on the job throughout the history of NYS DOT, Therese Dominguez said.
'These deaths are preventable, all of us, each and every New Yorker has a role to play in keeping our workers safe,' said Therese Dominguez.
As more construction projects begin in the area, the state has devised several plans to help catch violators and prevent incidents in work zones.
One of the measures the state is taking is continuing to utilize Operation Hard Hat, a joint initiative launched with New York State Troopers and other law enforcement to crack down and stop speeders in work zones and raise awareness.
'Operation Hard Hat' sees police cracking down on traffic violators in work zones
Another tactic is the continued use of the Automated Work Zone Speed Enforcement Program, a pilot program passed by the state legislature and signed by Governor Kathy Hochul several years ago that puts vehicles with speed cameras in work zones.
'The data is in…People slow down when there is camera enforcement in the work zone, we know this, the program works,' Therese Dominguez said.
Therese Dominguez adds to the data by saying there have been no injuries or deaths in areas with speed cameras in work zones.
Since this program has been enacted, more than 425,000 notices of liability have been issued across the state, and more than 38,000 repeat offenders have been issued tickets.
'This is not a money grab, this is a safety grab,' Therese Dominguez said. 'This is all about making sure every penny that's collected as a notice of violation goes back into worker safety and worker protection,' she said.
At the end of the day, safety is everyone's responsibility, and Therese Dominguez urges everyone to drive safely in work zones and show the workers the respect they deserve. National Workplace Awareness Week isn't just about bringing awareness to drive and act safely in work zones but to honor those who died while working on busy roadways across the state.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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