LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) – Drivers who speed through work zones in Kentucky could soon face a $500 fine, thanks to a new state law aimed at improving safety for road crews.
The Jared Lee Helton Act, named after a 22-year-old killed in a work zone crash in 2018, allows the state to use automated speed cameras in active construction areas.
In 2024 alone, Kentucky recorded more than 1,200 work zone crashes, injuring nearly 300 people and killing seven — including Blake Barnes, a road maintenance worker in Hodgenville.
"It's about one thing: saving lives," said Kentucky Transportation Cabinet Secretary Jim Gray.
The cameras will be placed in areas where drivers are going more than 10 mph over the posted speed limit. The new law requires warning signs and flashing lights to let drivers know when the cameras are active.
Officials plan to start by placing the cameras along Interstate 64, near Lexington, and in other spots across eastern and south-central Kentucky. The devices will rotate to different locations as needed.
While the cameras will flag violations, a police officer must be nearby to issue the citation.
"Nobody will receive a ticket in the mail. There will be no text messages sent to you," said Major Eric Walker with Kentucky State Police.
Drivers caught speeding in a work zone will face a $500 fine.
"That cost may seem high, but lives, they are priceless," Walker said.
The first of four cameras could be in use as early as next month.
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