The American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials' 2026 Safety Summit in Hartford, Connecticut brought together transportation and traffic safety leaders to examine how speed cameras and related enforcement tools can reduce dangerous driving. The session was moderated by AASHTO President Russell McMurry, commissioner of the Georgia Department of Transportation.

McMurry underscored the scale of the problem, citing U.S. Department of Transportation data estimating 113,000 work zone crashes in 2024, resulting in 41,000 injuries, and 850 fatalities.

 

"Work zone safety is critically important - and the data shows why it's so important to have automated speed enforcement in work zones," McMurry said.

Cedric Ward of the Maryland State Highway Administration described the state's extensive use of automated speed enforcement, including applications in work zones, school zones and other locations where excessive speeding poses risks. He also noted that recent legislation allows Maryland to deploy portable automated enforcement cameras.

Michael Hanson, director of the Minnesota Office of Traffic Safety, stressed that public acceptance and policymaker support remain important obstacles to broader adoption. Agencies must communicate the technology's benefits and address concerns about its use.

Christine Mayeur of the District of Columbia Department of Transportation highlighted complementary enforcement efforts, including keeping bus lanes and loading zones clear to improve transit efficiency and passenger safety.

https://aashtojournal.transportation.org/aashto-safety-summit-managing-speed-with-technology/

As seen in LASN magazine, November 2026.