Idaho using red flashers on snowplows, Washington interested

LEWISTON – Idaho officials say changing the rear lights on snowplows from flashing yellow to flashing red has resulted in fewer mishaps by motorists approaching 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.

“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.”

Officials with the Washington state Department of Transportation say they have no plans to switch to flashing red lights on snowplows.

“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.”

But 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.”