The Associated Press
OLYMPIA — Officials with the Washington Department of Transportation say they have no plans to switch to flashing red lights on snowplows despite Idaho officials’ reports of fewer mishaps after making the change from yellow lights.
“We don’t have any plans to do so at this moment,” said department spokeswoman Barbara LaBoe.
“We do know that some states have done that, and we’re certainly monitoring that.”
Idaho officials said that changing the rear lights on snowplows from flashing yellow to flashing red has resulted in fewer wrecks as motorists approach the road-clearing machines from behind.
“Too many people were ignoring the flashing yellows and running right up to the snowplows,” Idaho Transportation Department spokesman Reed Hollinshead told The Lewiston Tribune.
“Flashing red definitely gets a driver’s attention.”
He didn’t have exact numbers but said crashes have decreased since changing the lights three years ago.
Idaho State Police approved the change.
“We get a fair amount of people running into plows,” said Idaho State Police Capt. Lonnie Richardson, who oversees the department’s north central Idaho district.
“It certainly is going to add some additional safety to the motoring public.”
Washington state has made one change.
Plows have been equipped with brighter LED bulbs on the amber lights, said Russ Johnson, a transportation department superintendent based in Colfax.
“There’s some amazing lights out there now,” Johnson said. “You can see them from miles away.”
He has concerns about red lights confusing motorists into thinking they might be approaching an accident. Still, he said, Washington could switch.
“If Idaho did it, we’ll probably be looking at how that works out for them,” Johnson said. “It could be something we do in the future.”
