PENNSYLVANIA — Governor Josh Shapiro signed House Bill 1284 into law on Wednesday, marking a significant advancement in Pennsylvania’s efforts to enhance road safety. The bill, authored by State Rep. Ed Neilson, chair of the House Transportation Committee, amends Title 75 (Vehicles) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes. It extends and expands automated speed enforcement programs and initiates a study on the use of speed cameras in municipalities.
The new law eliminates the February 2024 expiration date for the Automated Work Zone Speed Enforcement program and the December 2023 expiration for the Automated Speed Enforcement program on Roosevelt Boulevard in Philadelphia. This ensures the continuity of these vital safety initiatives.
Moreover, the law expands the Roosevelt Boulevard program to up to five additional corridors in Philadelphia and creates a five-year pilot program for speed cameras in up to five school zones in the city. The additional locations require approval via a local ordinance adopted by the Philadelphia City Council.
Another notable aspect of the law is the initiation of a two-year study on the use of speed cameras in municipalities. This study will provide valuable insights into the effectiveness of such technologies in reducing speeding and improving road safety.
When the law takes effect, it will reset the number of prior offenses for all drivers under the Work Zone and Philadelphia programs back to zero. It also introduces a provision allowing drivers to contest violations through virtual hearings. Under both programs, a violation cannot be issued unless the vehicle exceeds the posted speed limit by 11 miles per hour or more.
Since 1970, 90 PennDOT employees have tragically lost their lives in the line of duty. The Work Zone program, initiated in March 2020, has been effective in reducing speeding in work zones, thus protecting roadside workers. Approximately 82% of violations issued last year were written warnings for a first offense, indicating that most drivers are slowing down and not committing subsequent offenses.
The Roosevelt Boulevard program, launched in June 2020, has been a successful tool in curbing speeding on Roosevelt Boulevard in Northeast Philadelphia. From the start of the program issuing 220,000 tickets for vehicles exceeding the speed limit by more than 11 miles per hour, by January 2022, the program issued only 15,000 tickets, marking a remarkable 93% reduction.
“The success of these cameras along Roosevelt Boulevard isn’t an exaggeration,” Neilson said. “It was never about penalizing drivers or generating revenue, but about getting drivers to slow down and increase safety for drivers, cyclists, and pedestrians. It’s a tool that encourages responsible driving and creates a safer community for us all.”
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