With construction season underway, New York is promoting work zone safety

Spring in New York means the start of construction and road work season.

Throughout this week, authorities will be promoting National Work Zone Awareness – a week designated to remind drivers to slow down, be alert and to move over.

“There is nothing more important than the safety and well-being of our workforce — our team members,” said New York DOT Commissioner Marie Therese Dominguez.

“After a long winter, you will be seeing more workers out fixing our roads. Whether they’re protected by concrete dividers or orange cones, I urge all New Yorkers to help keep our crews safe by slowing down and moving over,” said New York’s DMV Commissioner Mark J.F. Schroeder.

The theme for this year’s awareness week is “Safe Actions Save Lives.”

Despite years of progress, authorities say work zones remain among the most dangerous places on New York’s roadways.

After three straight years of decline, work zone crashes on the New York State Thruway surged in 2025 to their highest level since 2020, with 228 crashes leading to 28 injuries, according to data from the Governor’s office.

These incidents are primarily caused by speeding, distracted driving, following too closely, unsafe lane changes and failure to obey warning signs and flagger instructions — behaviors that place both workers and motorists at risk.

Operation Hardhat Details

Beginning with National Work Zone Awareness Week and continuing throughout the spring and summer months, New York State Police and local law enforcement agencies will again conduct “Operation Hardhat” details in active Thruway and New York State Department of Transportation work zones statewide.

Under Operation Hardhat, State Troopers and participating local police officers, often dressed as highway workers, identify and cite motorists for violations including:

• Speeding in work zones
• Disobeying flagging personnel
• Cell phone and seatbelt violations
• Failure to comply with the State’s Move Over Law
• These targeted enforcement efforts are designed to deter dangerous behaviors and reinforce the shared responsibility drivers have to keep work zones safe.

During the 2025 construction season, New York State Police conducted 55 Operation Hard Hats statewide and issued a total of 3,217 tickets.

Automated Work Zone Speed Enforcement

Under Governor Hochul’s leadership, New York continues to expand its Automated Work Zone Speed Enforcement (AWZSE) program, a joint initiative of NYSDOT and the Thruway Authority established by legislation in 2021.

The program has proven effective at reducing speeds in work zones where cameras are deployed, helping change driver behavior and protect workers. Under the program, fines are issued as follows:

• First Notice of Liability: $50
• Second Notice of Liability: $75 within an 18-month period
• Third and subsequent Notices: $100 within an 18-month period

Governor Hochul’s FY27 Executive Budget proposal includes enhanced assault protections for highway workers, new penalties for menacing a highway worker and for intrusions into active work zones, and expands the AWZSE program to additional roadways, all further strengthening protections for roadside workers.

Safety Reminders for Drivers

Drivers are reminded to:

• Slow down when approaching and traveling through work zones
• Move over for all stopped vehicles, emergency responders and roadside workers
• Stay off phones and avoid other distractions
• Follow posted signs, lane shifts and flagger instructions

Work zone safety image.