Although the construction season may be winding down for the season, the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) on Thursday urged motorists to drive safely in work zones. 

The reminder comes after three separate work zone intrusions recently resulted in motorists hitting a PennDOT crash truck. 

According to PennDOT, there have been 72 reported intrusions in work zones across Pennsylvania as of November 10. Of those intrusions, seven led to injuries to PennDOT employees and 25 caused damage to PennDOT vehicles or equipment. 40 did not result in injury or damage but had the potential to do so. 

Motorists who drive 5 mph over the posted speed limit in work zones will face doubled fines. In addition, a driver that causes serious bodily injury within a work zone could face up to $5,000 in fines and a six-month license suspension. A driver who causes a death within a work zone could face up to a $10,000 fine and a one-year license suspension. Drivers who don't turn on their headlights in posted work zones face a $25 fine. 

The state earlier this year also deployed an automated system to monitor unsafe driving behaviors in work zones. Pennsylvania's Automated Work Zone Speed Enforcement uses vehicle-mounted systems to detect and record motorists exceeding posted work zone speed limits by 11 mph or more using electronic speed timing devices. 

Registered owners will receive a warning letter for a first offense, a violation notice and a $75 fine for a second offense, and a violation notice and $150 fine for third and subsequent offenses. 

According to PennDOT data, in 2019 there were 1,754 work zone crashes, resulting in 16 fatalities. Since 1970, 89 PennDOT employees have died in the line of duty.