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Towns say green strobe lights slow traffic and save workers; bill would let municipalities adopt lights state‑wide
Summary
Public works directors from Norfolk and Westminster presented local testing showing green strobe lights slow passing traffic more than amber lights; advocates asked the committee to change statute to allow municipalities to equip municipal vehicles with green strobes.
Public works directors and municipal representatives told the Joint Committee on Public Safety and Homeland Security that green strobe lights on municipal public works vehicles reduce passing drivers' speed and improve roadway worker safety.
Blair Crane, director of public works for the town of Norfolk, described a three‑year pilot and data collection that showed the motoring public reduced speed by an average of 23 miles per hour in rural settings and more than 11 miles per hour in densely settled areas when presented with green strobe lights versus amber strobes. "Our data over the past 3 years has conclusively shown that the motoring public reduces vehicle speed by an average of 23 miles per hour in rural settings and more than 11 miles an hour in heavily settled areas," Crane said.
Kevin Collins, assistant director of public works in Westminster, told the committee that green lights increase visibility in inclement weather and reduce driver complacency, and that conversion costs are modest because many vehicles already have strobe fixtures that can accept a green lens.
The bills (H 2599 / S 1768) would explicitly authorize municipal emergency management and public works vehicles to use green strobe lights without needing special permission. Supporters pointed to adoption in several other states — including Connecticut, Maine and Pennsylvania — and to endorsements from the Massachusetts Department of Transportation’s leadership.
Committee members asked about interoperability with other emergency colors and whether green lights could cause confusion with other authorized colors. Witnesses recommended clear statutory language limiting green strobes to municipal public works and emergency management vehicles and asked for a legislative fix to remove local permitting ambiguity.
No committee vote was taken; proponents asked the panel for a favorable recommendation to enable municipalities to adopt the safer lighting standard across the Commonwealth.
