New tech keeping HERO drivers safe

Sept. 15, 2026

By MJ Van

AUSTIN — Some roadside workers now have an extra layer of protection while helping drivers on Texas highways.

The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) installed HAAS Alert devices in Highway Emergency Response Operator (HERO) trucks in the Austin area.

The technology works by sending real-time digital alerts directly to drivers through navigation apps 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.

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.

For HERO operators, that advanced warning could help reduce the risk of dangerous encounters with passing traffic while they’re busy responding to incidents. Texas law requires drivers to move over a lane or slow down to 20 mph below the posted speed limit when approaching an emergency vehicle with flashing lights on.

Learn more about the HERO program across the state at txdot.gov.