The Texas Department of Transportation recently installed HAAS Alert devices on its Highway Emergency Response Operator or HERO trucks patrolling roadways in the Austin, TX, area.
[Above photo by TxDOT]
The agency said in a statement that HAAS Alert technology sends real-time digital alerts directly to drivers through mobile navigation applications and in-vehicle navigation systems.
When a HERO operator activates their emergency lights, anyone using platforms like Waze or Apple Maps receives a notification that a HERO truck is ahead, TxDOT said.
Those alerts are delivered when drivers are within about a half a mile of the HERO vehicle, giving them more time to slow down or move over, the agency noted.
TxDOT added that, for its HERO operators, that advance warning could help reduce the risk of dangerous encounters with passing traffic while they’re busy responding to incidents.
Across the country, state departments of transportation operate a variety of highway safety patrol services and are always seeking ways to improve safety for those workers serving on those crews.
For example, the South Carolina Department of Transportation operates a free roadside assistance endeavor called the State Highway Emergency Program or SHEP service. Beyond providing roadside assistance, including flat tire changes, battery jump-starts, fuel delivery, and minor mechanical assistance, SHEP responders help manage traffic incidents, reduce traffic congestion and enhance safety for all travelers.
In 2024, SCDOT began installing “Lane Blades” on the front of some of the state’s SHEP vehicles allowing its SHEP operators to safely remove debris from highways without stopping and getting out of the truck and into traffic.
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