Caltrans is urging every California driver to slow down, move over when it is safe, and eliminate distractions in highway work zones after six contractor employees were struck and killed on state projects between Aug. 10 and Oct. 8, 2026. Three of the deaths occurred in a single Riverside County incident on Sept. 25, according to the department.
The warning is statewide and applies wherever construction, maintenance or utility crews are working near live traffic. Drivers should expect changing lane patterns, reduced speeds, stopped equipment and workers operating only a short distance from moving vehicles.
What California drivers are required to do
California’s Move Over rule requires drivers approaching a stationary vehicle displaying flashing warning lights to change into an available lane away from that vehicle when the maneuver can be made safely. If a safe lane change is not possible, the driver must slow to a reasonable and prudent speed.
Caltrans says the current requirement covers vehicles such as marked highway-maintenance vehicles with flashing amber lights, emergency vehicles and tow trucks. The department’s Oct. 8 announcement is a safety reminder, not the start of a new rule on that date.
How to recognize a work zone
A work zone may be marked by cones, barrels, barriers, temporary pavement markings, warning signs or flashing lights. Conditions can change quickly even when workers are not immediately visible. A lane may narrow or end, construction vehicles may enter traffic, and crews may be working behind equipment or barriers.
- Reduce speed before reaching the active work area.
- Increase following distance and be prepared for sudden stops.
- Move over when it is safe and legally required.
- Do not use a handheld phone or adjust in-car controls while passing the work zone.
- Never drive impaired.
- Follow flaggers, temporary signals, signs and posted speed limits.
Why Caltrans issued the warning now
Caltrans said distracted, impaired and inattentive driving is a major contributing factor in roadway worker fatalities. After the September incident in Riverside County, the department ordered an immediate safety stand-down for construction teams and contractors to review roadside procedures.
The agency also said it is establishing an executive-level committee with industry partners. Its work will include reviewing existing standards, considering new technology and safety devices, and examining whether state contracts should require additional work-zone protections.
The public announcement identifies the six victims as contractor employees working on Caltrans projects. It does not present the circumstances of every collision as identical, so drivers should not infer a single cause for all six deaths.
Plan before driving through construction
Before a trip, check Caltrans QuickMap for closures, lane restrictions and traffic conditions. Allow extra time rather than trying to recover a delay by speeding through a work zone.
Construction around major routes can also involve overnight or weekend restrictions. California58 has details on the upcoming SR-47 closures at the Vincent Thomas Bridge and recent Central Valley high-speed rail construction milestones.
Official source: Caltrans news release, published Oct. 8, 2026. Additional official safety guidance is available through Be Work Zone Alert.
Featured image: illustrative work-zone photograph by Nishat Samadzai via Unsplash.
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