Growing up, I remember watching a television show called “Candid Camera.”

It was a weekly mainstay, and its content focused mostly on people in odd situations while a hidden camera recorded everything.

The resulting show - all meant in good fun - brought smiles and laughs to viewers across the country. Its incarnations and upgrades lasted more than 50 years and many hail it as the precursor to today’s reality shows.

Its catchphrase, “Smile! You’re on Candid Camera!” became a mantra as hidden cameras worked their ways in to everyday life.

These days, cameras are everywhere. In stores, offices, streets and even outer space, someone, somewhere is watching. Sometimes, they’ll provide a laugh or two at the absurdities of everyday life.

More often, though, they help ensure security and safety for ourselves and others.

Beginning this month, they’ll be doing that at highway work zones all across the state.

The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation and the state Turnpike Commission are working with state police to enforce the Work Zone Safety Camera Program.

The way it works is pretty straightforward.

Cameras mounted on vehicles parked in road construction zones detect and record drivers going faster than posted speed limits by 11 mph using specialized timing equipment.

Going faster than that will get drivers a warning letter for a first offense. Second offenders will be charged $75, and anybody caught for a third time - and every time after that - will pay a fine worth $150. Under the program, though, drivers won’t receive points against their licenses.

High-visibility signs will alert drivers ahead of the construction.

In addition, drivers planning travel can find out where cameras are being used on the project website, workzonecameras.penDOT.gov.

The program has been around for at least five years, but Gov. Josh Shapiro signed the current version into law last December to make it permanent in the state.

A pilot program has had some success, with speeding in work zones being reduced by 38% and excessive speeding - more than 11 mph over posted limits - dropping by 47%. Crashes in work zones fell by 50% when an enforcement vehicle was available.

The entire project is designed to change driving behaviors, not raise money.

Changing those behaviors save lives - both of drivers and construction workers.

Often, drivers are forced to navigate “cattle chutes” created by concrete barriers. Sometimes, just inches on the other side of those barriers, workers are doing their jobs. Still, in other work zones, barriers don’t exist and workers must rely on the skills of drivers.

Some of those drivers - as well as lawmakers - have argued in the past that the cameras infringe on privacy rights. Taking photos of license plates and logging who’s going where, they say, raises issues of surveillance.

The accuracy of some of the equipment has been questioned, with possible misidentifications or false speed readings.

At the same time, the cameras have been touted as a deterrent, possibly discouraging any speeders or distracted drivers in work zones.

They can gather evidence, too, in the event of an accident. That helps in investigations and insurance claims.

Perhaps the strongest argument for the cameras is that they help save lives.

In 2022, 1,293 work zone crashes happened in Pennsylvania, with 14 fatalities. And 42% of work zone crashes resulted in fatalities and injuries. Since 1970, PennDOT has lost 90 workers in the line of duty. The turnpike has lost 45 workers since 1945.

The pilot program showed some signs of success. Moving ahead, we can only hope that continues as more and more drivers become aware and drive responsibly.

Being perfectly candid, I think that would be something to smile about.

Ed Socha is a retired editor with more than 40 years’ experience in community journalism. Email tneditor@tnonline.com.

The foregoing opinions do not necessarily reflect the views of the Editorial Board or Times News LLC.