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The Colorado Department of Transportation is deploying high-visibility Ford Super Duty crash protection trucks to shield emergency workers at roadside incidents. The trucks use illuminated arrows and impact-absorbing attenuators, and are starting on three highways in the Denver area. CDOT says one truck absorbed a collision on Oct. 10 while responders worked at a crash scene.
The Colorado Department of Transportation is deploying neon-green Ford Super Duty trucks on highways around Denver to shield emergency workers at roadside incidents, using illuminated arrows and impact-absorbing equipment to warn approaching drivers and limit the force of a crash. The trucks are starting on Interstate 25, Interstate 225 and Interstate 70, with deployment to other parts of the state planned, according to a local news report cited by The Drive.
Called crash protection trucks, the vehicles are positioned to create a protective buffer between traffic and first responders working at an incident. Their bright, high-visibility livery is intended to make them stand out, while rear-facing illuminated arrows tell drivers to move over. The same kind of directional signaling is used in roadwork settings to guide traffic around work areas.
The trucks also carry attenuators—reinforced impact-absorbing equipment fitted to the rear. Attenuators are used on some roadwork vehicles to reduce the force of a collision if a motorist strikes them. They are a protective layer, not a substitute for drivers slowing down and moving over when approaching emergency scenes.
CDOT executive director Shoshana Lew told reporters that on Oct. 10 a driver struck one of the trucks while approaching a crash scene. Lew said the truck “worked exactly how it was designed and protected our first responders tending to the scene.” The report does not identify the driver or provide details about injuries or damage.
A Buffer Between Traffic and Responders
Emergency workers can be exposed to moving traffic while treating patients, investigating crashes or assisting stranded motorists. A vehicle that stops on a shoulder or near a lane can leave responders with little physical separation from passing cars. The trucks add a visible warning and a barrier designed to absorb some impact if a driver fails to avoid the scene.
The Oct. 10 collision illustrates the risk the program is intended to address: according to Lew, the truck was hit while responders were working nearby. Her account indicates it protected the crew, but the available report does not provide enough information to assess the severity of the collision or measure the program’s overall effect. The broader goal is to reduce the chance that an initial roadside incident leads to another crash involving responders.
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From Work Zones to Crash Scenes
Bright vehicles, illuminated arrows and attenuators are familiar features of highway maintenance and construction operations. Work crews may use an attenuator-equipped vehicle behind workers or equipment as a shield against traffic. Colorado’s program applies similar protective equipment to emergency scenes, where responders may need to work beside active highways without the control of a formally established work zone.
The deployment is beginning on three busy routes around Denver: I-25, I-225 and I-70. The supplied report says CDOT plans to take the trucks to other parts of Colorado after the initial rollout. It does not state how many vehicles are in the fleet, how quickly the rollout will proceed or which locations will receive them next.
LED arrow board traffic control truck mounted
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Fleet Size and Safety Results
The available reporting does not specify how many trucks CDOT is deploying, the schedule for expanding beyond the Denver-area highways or the program’s cost. It also does not detail the Oct. 10 collision, including the speed of the vehicle, damage to the truck or whether anyone was injured.
CDOT’s broader safety results are not yet reported. There is no supplied data on how often the trucks will be used, how many roadside incidents they will cover or whether they reduce secondary crashes over time. The single collision described by Lew is an account of one incident, not a measure of the program’s overall performance.
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Rollout Beyond Denver
CDOT’s stated next step is to deploy the trucks on additional roads outside the initial Denver-area routes. The supplied report does not give a timetable or list the next locations. Further information from the department could clarify fleet size, operating procedures and how the trucks are assigned to emergencies.
As the program proceeds, details on deployments and crash outcomes will help show how the protective vehicles are being used. Drivers should still slow down and move over when approaching stopped emergency vehicles; the trucks are an added safeguard for responders, not permission to pass a roadside scene without caution.
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Key Questions
What are Colorado’s crash protection trucks?
They are high-visibility Ford Super Duty trucks equipped with rear-facing illuminated arrows and impact-absorbing attenuators. CDOT is deploying them to protect responders at roadside incidents.
Where are the trucks being deployed first?
The first deployment is on I-25, I-225 and I-70 around Denver. The report says CDOT plans to expand to other parts of Colorado but does not give a schedule.
Did one of the trucks get hit?
Yes. CDOT executive director Shoshana Lew told reporters that a driver struck one of the trucks on Oct. 10 while approaching a crash scene. Lew said it protected responders, but details about injuries and damage were not provided.
Do the trucks replace the need to move over?
No. The arrows and attenuators provide extra warning and protection, but drivers should still slow down and move over when approaching emergency vehicles and roadside crews.
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