Arkansas DOT places speed cameras in new areas

Arkansas plans to install automatic cameras to monitor speeding in highway construction areas.

On April 11, State Governor Sarah Huckabee signed into law Bill 707, which amended the state’s rules regarding the use of automatic traffic safety cameras.

Previously, the Arkansas Code allowed the use of traffic safety cameras in school districts and at railroad crossings. Bill 707 expanded the areas of use of cameras to include areas for construction work on the highway.

The bill was sponsored by Senator Kim Hammer (GOP, Benton) who noted an increase in accidents, particularly in the 3-mile construction zone in Saline County.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Association’s Fatality Analysis Reporting System, there were 874 fatal accidents in construction areas in the United States in 2021, up from 780 a year earlier. Speeding caused 278 of these accidents. For commercial vehicles, 291 of these crashes, approximately 33%, involved a heavy-duty truck.

“That’s what ultimately led to where we are today,” Hammer said in an interview. “I was surprised by the number of accidents that happened there, so we decided to try to find a solution.” Traffic safety cameras located along the road construction areas will capture images of vehicles exceeding the posted speed limit.

After recording, the image is transmitted to an employee located at or near the end of the construction area. The officer will stop the violator’s car as soon as he leaves the construction area and issue either a fine or a warning.

“These are not cameras that mail tickets to drivers,” Arkansas Highway Patrol Chief Jeff Holmes told KATV News. “This equipment simply allows officers to better enforce speed limits in construction areas in real time, ensuring greater safety for our drivers and workers.”

The bill will come into force in early August.