Colorado's Plan to Protect Emergency Workers on the Shoulder? Giant, Neon Green Ford Trucks

Colorado is deploying specialized “crash protection trucks” to shield first responders and crash victims from inattentive drivers. The Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) will place Ford Super Duty trucks with neon high-visibility-style livery on Denver-area highways to reduce secondary collisions involving stopped vehicles. As reported locally, the trucks feature rear-facing illuminated arrows to encourage drivers to move over, an approach already used in work zones nationwide. They also carry attenuators—reinforced bumpers designed to absorb impact if drivers fail to respond. Initial deployments will begin on Interstate 25, Interstate 225 and Interstate 70 around Denver, expanding later statewide. CDOT executive director Shoshana Lew said an Oct. 10 incident showed the truck protecting responders as intended.