Self-Driving CDOT Crash Truck Protects Highway Workers

Highway work zones are among the most dangerous environments for road workers, with thousands of fatalities and injuries occurring nationwide each year. To reduce risk, the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) has deployed autonomous truck-mounted attenuators, driverless crash-protection vehicles designed to absorb rear-end collisions in work zones. These trucks, controlled via sensors, GPS, and video links, follow lead maintenance or paint-striping vehicles, placing the vehicle in the impact zone instead of human operators. Colorado pioneered the technology in 2017, and current deployment includes three trucks with plans for expansion supported by federal grants and multi-state partnerships. While costly, the autonomous trucks aim to enhance safety, reduce fatalities, and allow work crews to perform essential tasks such as painting, mowing, and pothole repair without exposing personnel to high-risk conditions. The initiative demonstrates the potential of automation to transform work zone safety nationally and internationally.