California Department of Transportation


Q Why do I have to slow down in construction zones?

Caltrans often does not post a slower speed limit in work zones, but motorists are advised to slow down and proceed with caution whenever signs of highway work are present. Highway workers' safety depends on how well you drive. When three lanes of traffic are channeled into two, traffic tends to move slower. Driving in an unsafe manner or at an unsafe speed in a work zone could mean an expensive citation from the California Highway Patrol -- state law now allows for a doubling of traffic fines when they occur in highway work areas.