County snowplow trucks will eventually have amber and green lights flashing to warn motorists.
New green flashing lights are being incorporated on winter maintenance vehicles throughout Michigan this winter. In an effort to reduce crashes, the Michigan Department of Transportation and some 50 county road commissions and several municipalities will begin using green and amber lights that may be flashing, rotating or oscillating on their winter maintenance vehicles.
Sanilac County Road Commission Engineer Rob Falls said the county experimented with the green lights for a three-week period last year and stopped using them for liability issues. Since the lights have become legal in maintenance vehicles, Falls said as Sanilac County puts new trucks in to service, the light scheme will be implemented. He expects to have one truck with the new lights on the road this winter, with more being put in to service next year. The cost of switching all of the lights over to brighter LEDs is another determining factor, according to Falls.
Wider use of the green lights is a result of new legislation that amends the Michigan Vehicle Code to allow for the use of the color green on maintenance vehicles.
___________
