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Colorado’s transportation department is deploying neon-green Ford Super Duty crash protection trucks at roadside emergencies, starting on I-25, I-225 and I-70 near Denver. Their warning arrows tell drivers to move over, while rear-mounted attenuators are designed to absorb impact if a vehicle strikes the truck. CDOT says one truck was hit while protecting responders at a crash scene on Oct. 10.
Colorado’s Department of Transportation is deploying neon-green Ford Super Duty trucks to shield emergency workers at roadside incidents, using illuminated move-over arrows and impact-absorbing equipment to reduce the risk of secondary crashes. The trucks are starting on Interstates 25, 225 and 70 in the Denver area, with service expected to expand elsewhere in the state, according to a local report cited by The Drive.
The vehicles, described as crash protection trucks, are designed to provide a visible warning and a physical buffer between traffic and first responders working beside the road. Their bright livery is intended to make them conspicuous, while rear-facing illuminated arrows direct approaching drivers to move over.
The trucks also carry impact attenuators, reinforced devices designed to absorb some of the force of a collision. Similar equipment is used in highway work zones, often on vehicles positioned behind crews or roadside operations. The source material does not provide technical specifications for the Colorado trucks or say how much impact their attenuators are rated to absorb.
CDOT executive director Shoshana Lew said a driver struck one of the trucks on Oct. 10 while approaching a crash scene. Lew told reporters the vehicle “worked exactly how it was designed and protected our first responders tending to the scene,” according to The Drive’s account. The report does not give the crash location, the driver’s condition, or details about damage to the truck.
A Buffer for Roadside Responders
Emergency crews working near moving traffic face the danger of a second collision while responding to the original incident. A high-visibility vehicle placed between traffic and responders could give drivers another warning and offer a physical barrier if someone fails to move over. The Oct. 10 collision described by Lew shows the equipment being struck during an active response, although the available account does not establish how often such crashes occur or quantify the program’s effect on injuries.
For people driving through the affected corridors, the trucks are an additional roadside signal: drivers should slow down and move over when approaching emergency scenes. The attenuators are a backup layer, not a substitute for driver caution or a guarantee that workers will be unharmed in a collision.
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From Work Zones to Emergency Scenes
Highway crews commonly use impact attenuators on vehicles that shield workers during construction or maintenance. Colorado’s program applies that kind of protective equipment to emergency response scenes, where police, fire and other responders may be working beside live traffic. The illuminated arrows echo traffic-control signals already used in roadwork settings.
The report says the first vehicles are being deployed on I-25, I-225 and I-70 around Denver before moving to other parts of Colorado. It does not specify the number of trucks, their deployment schedule, or which agencies will request or operate them at individual incidents.
Deployment Details Still Pending
The available reporting does not state how many trucks are in the initial fleet, when expansion beyond Denver is expected, or what the program will cost. It also does not provide detailed information about the Oct. 10 collision, including the truck’s damage, whether anyone was injured, or the circumstances that led the driver to hit it.
CDOT’s long-term results are also not yet clear. No figures are provided for crashes involving responders before or after deployment, and the source does not identify a formal evaluation plan. The report describes the trucks’ purpose and one incident, but that is not enough to measure their overall safety impact.
Expansion Beyond Denver
According to the report, the trucks will first serve the Denver-area sections of I-25, I-225 and I-70, followed by deployment in other parts of Colorado. The source material does not give dates for that expansion or describe the criteria CDOT will use to select additional locations.
Further information from CDOT could clarify fleet size, operating procedures, costs and how the agency will track collisions and worker safety. Until those details are available, drivers should follow the illuminated directions and move over when approaching stopped emergency vehicles or roadside crews.
Key Questions
What are Colorado’s crash protection trucks?
They are neon-green Ford Super Duty trucks equipped with rear-facing illuminated arrows and impact attenuators. They are intended to warn drivers and provide a protective buffer for responders at roadside emergencies.
Where are the trucks being deployed first?
The initial deployment is on I-25, I-225 and I-70 in the Denver metro area. The report says they are expected to reach other parts of Colorado later, but gives no expansion dates.
What does an impact attenuator do?
An impact attenuator is a reinforced device designed to absorb some force if a vehicle hits it. The source does not provide the Colorado trucks’ technical ratings or describe the limits of their protection.
Has one of the trucks already been hit?
Yes. CDOT executive director Shoshana Lew said a driver struck a truck while approaching a crash scene on Oct. 10. Lew said it protected the responders; further details about the collision were not provided in the cited report.
Source: rss
