California Urges Motorists to Give Utility Crews Room
Caltrans and partners highlight roadside worker protections during Crash Responder Safety Week.
Updated on Nov. 4, 2026 in Emergency Response
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California transportation officials urged drivers to give utility recovery crews working along roadways more space during Crash Responder Safety Week. The campaign highlights the state's expanded move-over law, which requires lane changes or reduced speed near stopped vehicles displaying hazard lights.
Why it matters
Utility recovery crews face risks from passing traffic, and agencies say distraction, speeding, impaired driving, and road rage all endanger roadside workers. Reminding drivers of the move-over requirement aims to reduce those risks on California roads.
The campaign is tied to Crash Responder Safety Week and California's expanded move-over law, which covers stopped roadside vehicles displaying hazard lights or warnings. The release does not provide incident counts or compliance metrics.
The players
Caltrans
The California Department of Transportation is the state agency responsible for the state highway system and led the roadside worker safety messaging.
The details
Caltrans and its partners are asking motorists to change lanes, reduce speed, or both when approaching stopped roadside vehicles. The campaign specifically includes utility recovery teams among the workers it aims to protect, and it names distraction, speeding, impaired driving, and road rage as leading threats.
Timeline
November 4, 2026: Article on the California roadside worker safety campaign was published during Crash Responder Safety Week.
Seasonal Patterns
The campaign builds on California's expanded move-over law, which extends the duty to change lanes or slow down to stopped vehicles displaying hazard lights or warnings. It is framed as an annual awareness effort tied to Crash Responder Safety Week rather than a response to a single incident.
Drivers approaching stopped utility or roadside vehicles with hazard lights should change lanes if it is safe to do so, or reduce speed. Avoiding distraction, speeding, and impaired driving near work zones helps protect roadside crews.
The takeaway
Giving roadside workers space is a simple driving habit that can prevent serious injuries. Slowing down and moving over when hazard lights are visible protects both crews and motorists.
Further reading
For more on how agencies coordinate responses to roadway incidents, see Emergency Response coverage.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Occupational Health & Safety.
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Do you slow down or change lanes for roadside workers in your area?
