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Massachusetts Page |  |
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Massachusetts Page | |
GOVERNOR SIGNS A NEW BILL
BOSTON, AUGUST 2002
According to The Federal Highway Administration (FHwA), the number of people killed in motor vehicle crashes in work zones has increased from 789 in 1995 to an all-time high of 1,093 in 2000. While construction workers certainly deserve a safe working environment, it should also be noted that for every construction worker death, nine motorists died in work zone
accidents. And this has occurred after the implementation of programs that were supposed to decrease fatality numbers, with most strategies including increased fines and intensified enforcement campaigns.
By now, these programs have had time to be implemented and studied. The Texas Transportation Institute study on the effectiveness of fine-doubling - the only study on the subject - concluded, that this practice did not reduce work zone accidents.
Yet, over objections by the National Motorists Association, the acting Governor signed the bill doubling speeding fines in marked construction zones in Massachusetts...
"Politicians and diapers need to be changed, often for the same reason" - Anonymous