Ohio House Passes Work Zone Safety Bill
House Bill 82 would raise fines for reckless driving in construction zones when workers are present and now moves to the Ohio Senate.
Updated on Nov. 11, 2026 in Construction
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Should Ohio raise fines for reckless driving in highway work zones?
The Ohio House of Representatives passed House Bill 82, the Trenton Gallaway Work Zone Safety Act, which increases fines for certain traffic violations when construction workers are present in highway work zones. The bill now moves to the Ohio Senate for further consideration.
Why it matters
The legislation responds to an increase in accidents and injuries in Ohio construction zones in recent years, according to its sponsors. State Rep. Mark Johnson said the measure is intended to help reduce accidents in highway construction areas.
The Ohio State Highway Patrol's Work Zone Dashboard recorded 25,606 crashes in state work zones from 2021 through November 2026, with construction workers present in 35% of them. Work zone fatalities rose 11% in 2026, and the bill's effect on those figures has not yet been measured.
The players
Ohio House of Representatives
The lower chamber of the Ohio General Assembly, which passed House Bill 82 and sent it to the Senate.
Gary Click
A Republican state representative from Vickery who championed House Bill 82 and cited the death of highway worker Trenton Gallaway in support of the measure.
Mark Johnson
A Republican state representative from Chillicothe who co-championed House Bill 82 and said it is intended to reduce accidents in highway construction areas.
The details
House Bill 82 adds up to $100 in fines for reckless driving in a marked construction zone when one or more workers are present. Offenders may complete a driving safety course within 90 days instead of paying the added fine, while those who fail to finish face a higher fine and penalty. The bill also authorizes courts to impose double fines for speeding in construction zones when workers are present.
Timeline
November 11, 2026: The Ohio House passed House Bill 82.
2021 through November 2026: Period covered by the 25,606 recorded work zone crashes.
2026: Work zone fatalities increased 11%.
Market Landscape
House Bill 82 builds on Ohio's existing construction-zone traffic penalties by tying fines to whether workers are present. It extends that framework with doubled speeding fines and a driving-course option that offenders can use instead of paying the added penalty.
Drivers in Ohio construction zones could face an additional $100 fine for reckless driving when workers are present, or complete a driving safety course within 90 days to avoid it. Courts could also double speeding fines in these zones if the bill becomes law.
The takeaway
Ohio drivers should expect slower traffic and heavier penalties in marked construction zones if House Bill 82 passes the Senate. Reducing speed and avoiding distractions near workers remains the most direct way to lower risk.
Further reading
For related coverage, see the Construction section on how highway projects and worker safety affect the industry.
Live Poll
Should Ohio raise fines for reckless driving in highway work zones?
