Major change to California highway speed limit law comes into effect

New Year, new laws.

California drivers are being warned to be on high alert as possible changes to highway speed limits come into effect from Thursday.

A new speed enforcement law, which will be enforced from Jan. 1, allows the Department of Transport to reduce the limit on highways by 5mph across the Golden State.

Currently, the speed limit on the state’s highways is set at 65mph unless otherwise posted.

It wasn’t clear which highways would be immediately effected but signage is expected to be updated on the roadways that will now see the reduced 60mph limit.

Under the law, drivers will only be given citations if they are pulled over for not adhering to the limit within the first 30 days of the limit being lowered, the California Highway Patrol said in an alert.

The law is among a spate fresh speed-related legislation recently signed by Gov. Gavin Newsom that comes into effect in the New Year.

Starting from New Year’s Day, drivers will have to slow down or change lanes for any stationary vehicle with flashing hazard lights, cones or road flares under an expansion to the “slow down and move over” law.

“Drivers approaching such a vehicle must move into a lane that is not next to the stopped vehicle or slow down to a safe speed if changing lanes is not possible,” CHP patrol said.

Separately, the transport department has also now been authorized to implement a work zone speed safety pilot program that will use radars to crackdown on speeding.

Under the program, authorities will be able to snap clear photos of a vehicle’s license plate in those work zones.

“Citations will be issued to the vehicle’s registered owner with specified requirements and procedures for program implementation, citation issuance, review, and appeal,” according to CHP.

The Post reached out to CHP and the Department of Transport regarding the changes but didn’t hear back immediately.