What You Need To Know About Operation Yellow Jacket

Now that we are well into the spring season and inching closer to summer, more and more people are finally getting out of the house and shaking off those winter blues.

With all the fun things to do outside and beyond during these warm weather months, you may be traveling a bit more. Maybe a long weekend or vacation is on your radar for 2025.

If you choose to drive to your fun destination or whatever type of motoring you may be doing, which requires driving through Pennsylvania, PennDOT and the Pennsylvania State Police will be looking out for your safety as well as road construction workers.

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On May 6, 2025, details were announced for 'Operation Yellow Jacket' from the Pennsylvania State Police and the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation in highway work zones in the north and central sections of Pennsylvania.

The goal is safety for both road construction workers and motorists during the 2025 road construction season. During the 'Operation Yellow Jacket ' initiative, Pennsylvania State Police Troopers will be inside PennDOT vehicles in active construction zones, on the lookout for speeding, distracted driving, and aggressive driving behavior.

Our goal is to change driver behavior and to increase work zone safety. Speeding, distracted driving, and aggressive driving behavior is dangerous and can cost people their lives. We want the public to realize that the state police have a presence in work zones and are actively working to promote work zone safety. - Sara Barrett, Pennsylvania State Police Troop F Public Information Officer

According to the announcement from PennDOT and the Pennsylvania State Police, there were 1,250 work zone crashes last year (2024). Of those, 22 were fatalities, along with 62 serious injuries. 91 PennDOT workers have lost their lives in the line of duty since 1970.

Slow down in construction zones, follow the speed limit signs, and traffic patterns. In Pennsylvania, driving 11 mph or more above the posted speed limit in an active work zone, are involved in a crash, or are convicted for failing to drive at a safe speed, will lose their license for 15 days.

Fines are doubled in Pennsylvania for speeding, driving under the influence, and failure to obey traffic devices in active work zones. For more information, visit the PennDOT District 3 website, which covers Bradford, Tioga, Sullivan, Lycoming, Union, Snyder, Columbia, Montour, and Northumberland Counties

For information about infrastructure in Pennsylvania's District 3, including completed work, significant projects, planned and active construction projects, visit the PennDOT Results website of the PennDOT Projects website.

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