Thursday, OCTOBER 23, 2025 |
Photo – Snowplow with new light beacon – Courtesy WYDOT
The Wyoming Department of Transportation has equipped its snowplows with a new lighting system to help drivers see them more easily during winter conditions.
Earlier this week, WYDOT Region Five, which covers the northeastern portion of the state, unveiled a new lighting system for its plow trucks. Public Affairs Specialist Jordan Young explained that drivers were having trouble spotting the existing flashing blue lights in the blowing snow. To prevent plow collisions, WYDOT has replaced the blue lights with easier to see green beacons.
WYDOT Public Affairs Specialist Young said last winter, WYDOT installed flashing green and amber beacon lights on a handful of snowplows around the state. After seeing a drop in traffic collisions, Young said the agency plans to deploy the lighting system fleet-wide this year.
Last winter, seven WYDOT snowplows in our region were struck while clearing roads, including two incidents in Carbon County.
The latest Region One collision occurred on April 1st, when a passenger vehicle rear-ended a WYDOT plow on eastbound Interstate 80, outside Laramie. The plow operator was closing the gate at mile marker 317 when the driver of the passenger vehicle, who is reported to have been traveling at a high rate of speed at the time, crashed into the back of the plow truck.
The plow operator was uninjured in the crash. However, an unknown number of occupants in the passenger car were reported to have sustained undisclosed injuries. The plow truck was heavily damaged.
During the 2023 through 2024 winter, eight WYDOT snowplows were hit in District One, out of 13 statewide. Two of those incidents occurred in Carbon County.
Speaking to Bigfoot99, WYDOT Public Affairs Specialist Young said the state agency will also be installing green and amber lights on the side-mounted blades of its snowplow trucks. Known as wing plows, the secondary blades help clear shoulders and widen the plow path.
While the new lighting system will make the blades easier to see, Young still advised drivers not to pass plows on the shoulder.
With the new green and amber beacon systems in place, Young said snowplows will be easier to see during snowy conditions. Still, the WYDOT Public Affairs Specialist urged motorists to use caution when passing, adding that the safest place to drive is behind a snowplow.
Wyoming Statute 31-5-224 requires operators of motor vehicles to yield the right-of-way to emergency vehicles, including snowplows, and move over to allow them to pass.
