Caltrans and partner officials urged California drivers to slow down, stay alert and give road crews room after six contractor employees working on Caltrans highway projects were reportedly struck and killed in work zones since August 10, 2026. Three of the deaths were reported in one Riverside County incident on September 25. The count was reported after a Caltrans press conference by Edhat on October 10, 2026; it is not a complete statewide annual fatality total.
How to drive through a work zone
Caltrans’ reported guidance is straightforward: slow down, pay attention to changing conditions and give crews space. Cones and barrels are not the only signs of an active work area; watch for channeling devices, barriers, temporary pavement markings and work-zone signs as well.
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- Reduce speed and leave yourself time to respond to lane shifts, stopped vehicles and workers near the roadway.
- Stay alert for changes in traffic control and follow posted signs and directions.
- Move over when it is safe to do so; if you cannot safely change lanes near a stopped vehicle covered by the Move Over rule, slow to a safe speed.
- Do not use a mobile phone or drive while impaired by alcohol or drugs.
Officials described these actions under the campaign wording “Slow for the Cone Zone.”
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What California’s Move Over rule means
Edhat’s October 10, 2026 report summarizes California’s Move Over rule as requiring drivers approaching certain stopped vehicles displaying flashing warning lights or other warning devices to move over a lane when safe, or slow to a safe speed when a lane change is not safe. The report says covered vehicles include emergency vehicles, tow trucks and marked Caltrans vehicles displaying flashing amber lights. This is a plain-language summary of the report, not a quotation of statutory text; the source does not establish the exact effective year of the change it mentions.
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In practice, do not make a sudden or unsafe lane change to comply. Create space if you can do so safely; otherwise reduce speed and proceed cautiously.
What officials said about the deaths
According to Edhat’s account of the Caltrans press conference, six contractor employees on Caltrans highway projects had been struck and killed in work zones since August 10, 2026. Three reportedly died in a single Riverside County incident on September 25. These figures describe the incidents cited in that report, not an independently verified statewide annual count or fatality rate.
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California Transportation Secretary Toks Omishakin urged drivers to slow down, move over, remove distractions and give crews space, saying the actions cost drivers seconds but mean everything to people working in zones. Caltrans Director Dina El-Tawansy said workers on the state transportation system deserve travelers’ attention, whether they are Caltrans employees or contractors. These statements are reproduced as reported by Edhat.
Caltrans’ reported safety response
After the Riverside County incident, Caltrans reportedly called an immediate safety stand-down and directed construction teams and contracted partners to review roadside safety protocols. The department was also establishing an executive-level safety committee with industry partners. The reported agenda includes shared responsibilities at construction sites, technology and safety devices, current standards, and whether contracts could require additional safety measures. These are described as planned or ongoing steps, not completed findings.
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