VDOT Crews on the Front Lines: Keeping Virginia’s Roads Safe and Moving

Crashes and roadway incidents are never part of a driver’s plan, but when they happen, there’s a dedicated team of responders ready to act. As part of Crash Responder Safety Week, observed from November 17–21, the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) is highlighting the vital role its crews and contractors play in keeping highways safe and traffic moving.

While most drivers might only notice flashing lights and cones after a crash, what they’re seeing is a fast, coordinated response by VDOT personnel, often working alongside police, fire departments, and emergency medical services. These incident responders face dangerous conditions every day and are trained to take quick action when seconds count.

“Every day, incident responders encounter dangerous, life-altering situations on the roads that require quick action,” said VDOT Commissioner Stephen Brich. “In collaboration with law enforcement, fire and emergency services, VDOT’s incident responders play a pivotal role in implementing timely and efficient traffic control and response measures to keep Virginia moving.”

Governor Glenn Youngkin issued a proclamation recognizing Virginia Crash Responder Safety Week, underscoring the importance of these behind-the-scenes heroes who step up when something goes wrong on the road. Whether it’s a multi-vehicle crash or a weather-related emergency, VDOT responders are often the first on the scene and the last to leave.

Crash Responder Safety Week is also about encouraging drivers to take safety seriously. One of the simplest but most effective actions is to slow down and move over when approaching an incident. It’s not just courtesy, it’s the law in Virginia, and it can save lives.

According to the National Traffic Incident Management Coalition, traffic crashes and secondary incidents involving responders are a leading cause of on-duty injuries and fatalities among emergency workers, including law enforcement, firefighters, EMTs, and tow truck drivers.

VDOT crews are involved in nearly every step of the traffic incident response process. Local maintenance teams are often the first to set up cones, signs, and barriers that protect the scene and guide traffic around the hazard. Larger, highway-based incidents often call for specialized VDOT contractors who can bring in heavy equipment, handle environmental cleanups, or assist with detours.

These crews are also on call outside regular work hours, responding to late-night calls, weekend events, or sudden weather changes that lead to travel disruptions. From redirecting vehicles around jackknifed trucks to clearing debris from fallen trees, their work touches every corner of the state.

To improve visibility and help keep responders safer, VDOT is adding a new tool this month: red flashing lights on more than two dozen of its vehicles. Research has shown that red lights are more effective at catching drivers’ attention than other colors, encouraging them to move over or slow down sooner.

“Every flashing light is a reminder that someone is out there, helping to protect the rest of us,” Brich said. “Our goal is to make sure they go home safely every day.”

VDOT’s work is often invisible once traffic clears, but its presence is felt by every driver who has been able to safely navigate around a crash site or avoid long delays thanks to a quick response.

As Crash Responder Safety Week continues, VDOT is urging all Virginians to be more aware, more patient, and more cautious around incident scenes. Because when responders are protected, everyone gets home safer.