The Texas Department of Transportation has installed HAAS Alert devices in Highway Emergency Response Operator trucks in the Austin area, giving roadside crews a new layer of protection while they assist stranded drivers, the agency said in a Sept. 15 feature published in its newsroom.
The move targets one of the most dangerous parts of the job for the operators known as HERO drivers, who work within feet of moving traffic on some of the state’s busiest highways. Rather than relying only on flashing lights and roadside signage, the technology reaches drivers through the navigation apps many of them are already using.
According to TxDOT, the devices send real-time digital alerts directly to drivers through navigation apps and in-vehicle navigation systems. When a HERO operator activates emergency lights, anyone using platforms such as Waze or Apple Maps receives a notification that a HERO truck is ahead.
The agency said those alerts are delivered when drivers are within about half a mile of the HERO vehicle, giving them more time to slow down or move over. For operators, that advance warning could help reduce the risk of dangerous encounters with passing traffic while they respond to incidents.
The alerts reinforce an existing legal obligation. TxDOT noted that Texas law requires drivers to move over a lane or slow to 20 mph below the posted speed limit when approaching an emergency vehicle with flashing lights on.
The HERO program operates in several Texas metropolitan areas, assisting motorists with disabled vehicles, clearing debris and helping restore traffic flow after crashes. The agency said more information about the program statewide is available at txdot.gov.