New York state officials say more than 1,500 tickets were issued last week during Work Zone Safety week. On Tuesday, the state Department of Transportation held a ceremony at the State Fairgrounds to honor workers who were killed while in a work zone.

What You Need To Know

Officials say more than 50 New York State Department of Transportation workers have been killed on the job in a work zone

The NYSDOT held a ceremony in Syracuse Tuesday to honor those workers and keep their memory alive

The ceremony also serves as a reminder to people, to slow down and pay attention on the roads and in work zones

“Over the course of many years, unfortunately, the New York State Department of Transportation has lost 59 of our highway workers,” state Department of Transportation Commissioner Marie Therese Dominguez said. 

She says the goal is to bring awareness “across the board” to travelers.

Awareness that reckless driving in work zones will not be tolerated, with state police saying the 1,500 tickets issued came from officers on the ground and tickets from eyes in the sky.

“Speeds are down 30% since we launched the program,” Dominguez said.

“It’s about slowing down when we see a work zone. It’s about putting away the phone and paying attention,” New York State Police Troop T Capt. Steve Foundation said.

It’s a message that DOT says, when not followed, can lead to even more workers leaving their hat and vest, and more importantly, their family, behind.

“My dad was a very outgoing, loving, caring person,” Allysson Bornt said.

Just last year, Robert Bornt was killed in a work zone accident. He was a DOT supervisor overseeing a project in Pittstown when he was hit by a car.

The Hoosick Falls community lost a loved one, and a volunteer firefighter. His family lost their everything.

“They just want to go home to their family. And they’re expecting to see their family at the end of the day. So, just please pay attention,” Allysson asked of motorists.

Allison helped unveil her father’s hat and vest memorial on Tuesday.

Robert Bornt was just 54.

As for the camera program, the DOT says it helps keep speeds down, and that there are budget asks to help increase the amount of cameras being used in work zones.