The state transportation department is rolling out photo speed enforcement vans that will be used throughout work zones in Illinois, officials said.
The Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) unveiled five new photo enforcement vans that will be used throughout Illinois work zones starting this construction season.
The rollout of the vans is a continuation of a program that traces back to 20 years ago.
The vehicles are the result of a new contract with Modaxo, which allows for as-needed equipment updates and a “train the trainer” program that will put operations in the hands of IDOT and Illinois State Police.
The vans bear clear markings designating them as speed photo enforcement vehicles and feature updated technology and a large sign that displays the speed of approaching vehicles.
Highway Safety Programs Unit Chief Juan Pava said the improved technological features are a boon to the program.
“We are going to have lidar-based speed detection, which is a huge improvement over our previous contract that had radar speed detection,” Pava said.
“We have new cameras with much higher resolution, as well as new safety features within the units to keep the troopers who are deploying them safe. We’re hoping that with this new technology, we’ll be able to get better metrics to truly understand the speed issues in work zones and increase the effectiveness of the speed photo enforcement program,” Pava said.
The vehicles will be used exclusively in work zones while workers are present, as mandated by the 2004 passage of the Automated Traffic Control Systems in Highway Construction or Maintenance Zones Act.
IDOT will determine where the vans should be deployed. ISP troopers will staff the vans and handle ticketing.
“Speeding is one of the main causes of crashes in work zones,” Pava said.
“The vans give drivers ample warning that they may be going over the speed limit and the incentive to slow down before a speeding event is captured,” Pava added.
Work Zone Safety Engineer Nathan Peck said this is not a revenue-generating program and the primary benefit is a speed reduction and behavior change.
“That’s why we use a big white van. We want it to be visible. It’s all about deterrence, presence and visibility,” Peck said.
According to Pava, Illinois boasts one of the longest-standing speed photo enforcement programs in the nation.
“The original speed photo enforcement program was based on a study we did with the University of Illinois back in 2004, which demonstrated that the speed photo enforcement units decreased speed in work zones on average by about 8 mph, which brings average speeds closer to the posted work zone speed limits,” Pava said.
“That speed reduction is the first step to keeping our workers and road users safe,” he said.
ISP Captain Bill Langheim said that he has seen the program work firsthand.
“When drivers see these vehicles, it slows down traffic,” he said. “These are effective tools.”