Speed Cameras in Construction Zones? New California Bill Aims to Save Lives and Slow Down Drivers

California is one step closer to installing speed enforcement cameras in construction zones, sending a bold message: slow down, or pay the price.

A new bill moving through the California legislature — Assembly Bill 289 authored by Assemblymember Matt Haney — aims to change the way drivers behave in highway construction zones, and to save the lives of the workers who build and maintain the state’s roads. If passed, the law would establish a pilot program placing automated speed enforcement cameras at up to 75 road construction sites across the state, including major freeways and regional highways.

California highways often see vehicle crashes into work sites, resulting in fatal or severe injuries to workers. In 2021, the state reported 9,500 work zone crashes, causing nearly 3,000 injuries and 73 deaths, according to a news release sent out by Haney’s office.

“This bill is about saving lives and it’s about valuing the workers who risk their lives to build California’s infrastructure,” Haney said during a news conference. “This isn’t just tragic, it’s preventable. And we have a responsibility to fix it and protect both workers and drivers.”

Here’s how the speed camera program would work:

• Placement: Cameras would be installed at up to 75 construction zones across California.
• Enforcement: Drivers caught speeding by 11-15 mph over the limit would face a $50 fine, with fines escalating for higher speeds. Going 100 mph or more in a work zone would carry a $500 penalty.
• Equity: The bill includes provisions for reduced fines and payment plans for low-income drivers.
• Privacy: AB 289 bans the use of facial recognition and limits how data can be used and retained.

The cameras have already proven effective in cities like San Francisco, where pilot programs have reduced excessive speeding and crashes. Maryland and Pennsylvania, two states with similar camera programs, have seen dramatic improvements in safety around road construction sites.

If AB 289 passes, California will join 16 other states that have adopted speed cameras in work zones. Supporters say the technology is not about revenue or punishment, but about changing driver behavior and sending a clear message: speeding through construction puts lives at risk.

“After almost 30 years of working in traffic control, I have never seen people driving as fast or as recklessly as I do today,” said Michael Sprouse, California chapter president for American Traffic Safety Services Association, in the statement. “We keep increasing the amount of signs, cones, and barricades — to seemingly no effect on driver behavior. On freeways, where the risk to everyone involved is the greatest, enforcing speed controls is the most effective way to ensure everyone goes home to their families at the end of the day.”

Kern County and Bakersfield are no strangers to hazardous road work sites. Local construction projects, ongoing freeway upgrades, and regional development all require road crews to work just feet from speeding traffic, sometimes with tragic results. The push for speed cameras resonates locally as families of injured or killed Caltrans workers have joined the call for more effective protections.

The Law Office of Chain | Cohn | Clark has seen first-hand the devastating aftermath of crashes in construction zones, representing both injured workers and innocent motorists.

“Protecting road workers isn’t just a matter of enforcement, it’s about building a traffic culture where every life is respected,” said managing partner and attorney Matt Clark. “Technologies like speed cameras, backed by fairness and transparency, can change dangerous habits and save lives.”

The bill has moved to the Assembly floor after passing three Assembly committees with bipartisan support.

In the meantime, here’s what drivers should know:

• Watch for Construction Zones: Always slow down, even if cameras aren’t visibly present. Enforcement may be coming, and so is heightened attention from police.
• Fines Are Avoidable: The best way to avoid penalties and protect lives is simply to obey posted speed limits.
• Spread the Word: Supporting bills like AB 289 and advocating for road safety helps ensure everyone, workers and drivers alike, gets home safely.

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If you or someone you know is injured in an accident at the fault of someone else, or injured on the job no matter whose fault it is, contact the attorneys at Chain | Cohn | Clark by calling (661) 323-4000, or fill out a free consultation form, text, or chat with us at chainlaw.com.