LAS VEGAS, Nev — According to a survey by the Associated General Contractors of America (AGC), more than half of Nevada construction workers report feeling unsafe in their work zones, with speeding being the primary concern. To address this pressing issue, Assembly Bill 402 (AB 402) has been introduced, proposing the use of temporary speed cameras in active construction zones while workers are present.

As Alexis Motarex, Government Affairs Director for the Nevada Chapter of the AGC, pointed out, “They’ve got a concrete barrier, a hard hat and some steel-toed boots to protect them against a car moving at 60, 70, 80 miles an hour.”

The AGC’s survey found that 2,024 crashes occurred in construction zones in 2023 alone, making up approximately four percent of all crashes. These incidents resulted in nearly 200 construction worker injuries and six fatalities.

The introduction of AB 402, proposed by District 3 Assemblymember Selena Torres-Fossett, aims to tackle this issue by permitting temporary speed cameras in active construction zones. These cameras would only be active when workers are on-site to enhance safety measures and ensure that drivers adhere to posted speed limits.

“Everyone deserves to feel safe,” Assemblymember Torres-Fossett explained. “We’re not talking about people speeding by and nobody’s around in the middle of the night. We are talking about individuals who are working on these construction zones at three in the morning, four in the morning, before most of us get up to go to work. People are speeding by and jeopardizing their lives.”

While many support the idea of increased safety, some individuals have expressed concerns over privacy. However, Motarex emphasized that the proposed speed cameras would address these concerns: “We are trying to address a privacy issue by taking just a picture of the license plate and not of the driver and any passengers in the car.” He further reassured the public that the speed cameras would not be used to invade privacy. "It is entirely in the driver’s control to not get a citation when you’re driving through a work zone by simply obeying the posted work zone speed limit.”

A key provision of the bill is that a police officer would be required to review the footage from the speed cameras before any citations are issued. This ensures that due process is followed before any penalties are imposed.

Assemblymember Torres-Fossett added, “We don’t want to see people get cited for speeding in construction zones. In a perfect world, nobody would be cited for speeding in a construction zone, but the reality is we know that this is an issue.”

Motarex further clarified that the proposed fines would be consistent with those issued by a police officer when pulling over a speeding driver in a construction zone. "This isn’t any sort of mechanism to generate revenue or trap people. It is just to get them to slow down, observe the construction zone speed limit and save the lives and health of our crews that are out there working,” he said. “If I saw a sign that said cameras in use, I would slow down and observe the speed limit.”

The Importance of Worker Safety in Construction Zones

The safety of construction workers in active zones has become a growing concern, especially as the demand for infrastructure projects increases across the state. Construction zones are often hazardous environments, with workers and drivers sharing the same space. Speeding in these areas only heightens the risks of accidents and fatalities.

The implementation of speed cameras is one of several strategies aimed at improving safety for workers on the job. By enforcing speed limits more effectively, AB 402 hopes to create a safer working environment and reduce the number of accidents involving construction personnel.

The bill is expected to have a significant impact on worker safety, especially in high-traffic construction zones where the risk of accidents is more pronounced. If passed, it will allow for a more automated, yet efficient, means of ensuring drivers comply with speed regulations in these critical areas.

Public Support and Further Developments

The proposal has garnered support from various sectors, including construction trade unions and safety advocacy groups, who believe that stronger measures need to be taken to protect workers in construction zones. The idea of using speed cameras is gaining traction as a means of preventing preventable accidents, reducing fatalities, and fostering safer working conditions.

The city and state have committed to reviewing the effectiveness of the measure and providing further updates as the legislation moves through the process. With ongoing discussions about infrastructure safety, AB 402 could pave the way for similar initiatives in other regions, ultimately aiming to protect workers and encourage safer driving behaviors across the state of Nevada.

Originally reported by Andryanna Sheppard in Fox 5 KVVU - TV.