FEALittle Rock, Arkansas – Drivers traveling through Arkansas highway work zones will soon be under closer watch, as new camera technology is set to expand enforcement beyond speeding to include the use of handheld devices behind the wheel. State officials say the upgrade is aimed squarely at improving safety for road crews, law enforcement officers, and motorists passing through construction areas.
The Arkansas Highway Police, a division of the Arkansas Department of Transportation, currently uses work zone cameras to identify speeding violations. That system has already been in place across various highway construction sites. By mid-January, however, those same cameras will gain the ability to detect when a driver is holding and using a device such as a cell phone while driving through a work zone.
Officials say distracted driving has long been a concern in areas where lanes are narrowed, traffic patterns change quickly, and workers are often just feet away from moving vehicles. Arkansas law already bans the use of handheld devices in work zones, but enforcing that law has proven challenging under traditional methods.
“It is against Arkansas law to use a handheld device in a work zone,” said AHP Chief Jeff Holmes. “Until now, the hands-free law in work zones has been relatively difficult to enforce. This new technology will help us keep road workers and the traveling public safer.”
Despite the advanced technology, officials stressed that the cameras are not automated ticket machines. The system is designed to assist officers, not replace them. A law enforcement officer must still be present in the work zone for any warning or citation to be issued. Arkansas does not currently use a ticket-by-mail system for these violations.
Transportation leaders say the focus remains firmly on prevention rather than punishment. By increasing visibility and enforcement tools, they hope drivers will think twice before reaching for their phones in construction areas.
“Safety is our top priority at ARDOT. This includes the safety of workers within work zones, travelers passing through work zones, and officers stationed in or near work zones. Everyone deserves to make it home safely,” said ARDOT Director Jared Wiley. “This technology is yet another tool officers can use to enforce the laws that were enacted with safety in mind.”
To ensure transparency, signs will be posted ahead of work zones where camera enforcement is active. These signs are meant to alert drivers that they are entering an area where both speed and handheld device use may be monitored.
State officials believe the added layer of enforcement will encourage safer driving habits and reduce crashes in some of the most dangerous stretches of roadway. Work zones already demand extra attention, they say, and removing distractions can make a critical difference.
As construction continues across Arkansas highways, authorities are urging drivers to slow down, put phones away, and stay alert—reminding everyone that a few seconds of attention could save a life.
