Vehicles: highway safety.

Crime Education Labor

Enacted

This bill passed the Legislature and reached final enactment based on the latest official action.

Sponsor: Wilson
Last action: 2025-07-28
Official status: Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 58, Statutes of 2025.
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official source does not provide specific details on enforcement costs or expected outcomes.

Highway Safety Rules for Drivers

AB-390 changes the rules to require drivers to be more careful around all types of stationary vehicles with flashing lights on highways.

What This Bill Does

Expands the rule that requires drivers to slow down or change lanes when they see a Caltrans vehicle with flashing lights to include all marked highway maintenance vehicles.
Adds new requirements for drivers to approach cautiously and follow rules when passing any stationary vehicle showing warning signs like flashing hazard lights, cones, flares, or reflective devices.

Who It Names or Affects

Drivers on highways who see vehicles with flashing lights or other warning signals
Highway maintenance workers and others working near roads

Terms To Know

Caltrans vehicle: A marked vehicle used by the California Department of Transportation for road work or emergencies.
Stationary vehicle: A vehicle that is not moving, such as one parked on the side of a highway.

Limits and Unknowns

The bill does not specify how much money will be spent to enforce these new rules.
It's unclear if this law will lead to more fines or accidents being prevented.

Bill History

2025-07-28 California Legislative Information
Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 58, Statutes of 2025.
2025-07-28 California Legislative Information
Approved by the Governor.
2025-07-15 California Legislative Information
Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 3:30 p.m.
2025-07-10 California Legislative Information
Senate amendments concurred in. To Engrossing and Enrolling. (Ayes 73. Noes 0. Page 2503.).
2025-07-03 California Legislative Information
In Assembly. Concurrence in Senate amendments pending.
2025-07-03 California Legislative Information
Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Assembly. (Ayes 35. Noes 0. Page 1932.).
2025-07-01 California Legislative Information
Read second time. Ordered to Consent Calendar.
2025-06-30 California Legislative Information
From committee: Be ordered to second reading file pursuant to Senate Rule 28.8 and ordered to Consent Calendar.
2025-06-19 California Legislative Information
In committee: Hearing postponed by committee.
2025-06-10 California Legislative Information
From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. with recommendation: To Consent Calendar. (Ayes 13. Noes 0.) (June 10). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
2025-05-20 California Legislative Information
From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to committee. Read second time, amended, and re-referred to Com. on TRANS.
2025-05-07 California Legislative Information
Referred to Com. on TRANS.
2025-04-29 California Legislative Information
In Senate. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment.
2025-04-28 California Legislative Information
Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Senate. (Ayes 74. Noes 0. Page 1313.)
2025-04-10 California Legislative Information
Read second time. Ordered to third reading.
2025-04-09 California Legislative Information
From committee: Do pass. (Ayes 14. Noes 0.) (April 9).
2025-03-25 California Legislative Information
From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 16. Noes 0.) (March 24). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
2025-03-12 California Legislative Information
Re-referred to Com. on TRANS.
2025-03-11 California Legislative Information
From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to Com. on TRANS. Read second time and amended.
2025-02-18 California Legislative Information
Referred to Com. on TRANS.
2025-02-04 California Legislative Information
From printer. May be heard in committee March 6.
2025-02-03 California Legislative Information
Read first time. To print.

Official Summary Text

AB 390, Wilson.
Vehicles: highway safety.
Existing law requires a driver approaching, among others, a stationary marked Caltrans vehicle that is displaying flashing lights to approach with due caution and either change lanes to a lane not immediately adjacent to the vehicle, or, if unable to safely do so, slow to a reasonable and prudent speed, as specified. Existing law makes a violation of that provision an infraction, punishable by a fine of not more than $50.
This bill would expand that requirement to apply to all marked highway maintenance vehicles, as defined, and would also make that requirement applicable to any other stationary vehicle displaying flashing hazard lights or another warning device, including, but not limited to, cones, flares, or retroreflective devices. By expanding the scope of a crime, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program.
The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement.
This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.

Current Bill Text

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