By Hank Russell
New York State troopers from Troop L in Farmingdale took part in “Operation Hard Hat” on the Southern State Parkway on July 20 in order to crack down on speeding and unsafe driving in enforced work zones.
Operation Hard Hat is an initiative in which State Troopers conduct enhanced enforcement in work zones. The goal is to protect highway and roadside workers, emergency personnel and all motorists from dangerous driving in and around active work zones, according to the NYSP.
Over the course of just several hours, Troopers issued 68 tickets, 33 of which were for speeding. The NYSP’s Long Island-based troop said that the number of violations observed in such a short period shows the ongoing risks faced by highway workers and the importance of driver awareness in these areas.
Individuals who commit these infractions are choosing to drive dangerously and place highway workers and other motorists in jeopardy,” NYSP Troop L said in a statement.