Petition Proposal: Authorizing Green and Amber Warning Lights on Refuse Vehicles in Pennsylvania to Enhance Worker and Vehicle Safety

Introduction

We, the undersigned, petition the Pennsylvania General Assembly and the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) to amend Title 75 of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes (Vehicles Code) to authorize the use of flashing or revolving green lights in addition to amber (yellow) lights on solid waste collection vehicles, such as garbage trucks. This change would align regulations with those recently implemented for highway construction and maintenance vehicles, aiming to improve visibility, reduce accidents, and lower the alarmingly high fatality rates among waste collection workers. Garbage collection is one of the most dangerous occupations in the United States, with workers facing significant risks from struck-by incidents involving passing vehicles. By enhancing vehicle lighting, we can promote safer roadways for these essential workers and the public.

Under current Pennsylvania law, solid waste collection vehicles are required to be equipped with bright yellow strobe lights affixed to the roof for visibility. This is supported by the "Slow Down to Get Around" law (Title 75, Section 4572.2), which mandates motorists to move over or slow down when approaching stationary trash or recycling trucks, similar to protections for emergency vehicles. These yellow lights are mandatory and help alert drivers to the presence of workers and vehicles.

In contrast, recent legislative changes have expanded lighting options for highway construction and maintenance vehicles. Act 78 of 2024 (formerly House Bill 2182) allows these vehicles to use flashing or revolving fluorescent green lights in addition to yellow lights. This includes township maintenance vehicles and contractors working on behalf of local governments. The purpose is to improve conspicuity and safety, with full fleet upgrades planned to incorporate green and amber combinations for better visibility in various conditions.

Garbage trucks, however, remain limited to yellow lights only, despite operating in similar high-risk environments like residential streets, highways, and urban areas where visibility is crucial.

Safety and Fatality Rate Comparison

Waste collection workers face significantly higher risks compared to construction workers, underscoring the need for enhanced safety measures like advanced lighting.

Fatality Rates for Garbage Truck Workers: Garbage collection is consistently ranked among the deadliest occupations in the U.S. In 2023, it was the fourth deadliest, with a fatality rate of approximately 30-34 per 100,000 workers. Between 2012 and 2022, there were 310 occupational fatalities associated with refuse trucks, yielding a rate of 22.6 per 100,000 workers. Many of these deaths result from struck-by incidents, where workers are hit by passing vehicles or their own trucks during collection activities.

Fatality Rates for Construction Workers: While construction is also hazardous, its fatality rate is notably lower, at about 9.6-13.2 per 100,000 workers. In 2023, the construction industry accounted for approximately 1,075 fatal injuries, representing about 20% of all workplace deaths in the U.S. Road construction sites see similar risks, but enhanced visibility measures, including the new green light authorization, may contribute to lower rates.

This disparity highlights an opportunity: Garbage workers experience fatality rates 2-3 times higher than construction workers, often in comparable roadside scenarios. Implementing green and amber lights on garbage trucks could help bridge this gap by increasing driver awareness and reducing collision risks.

Proposal

We propose amending Section 4572.2 of Title 75 to include the following:

Solid waste collection vehicles may be equipped with one or more flashing or revolving green lights in addition to the required yellow strobe lights.

These lights shall be used when the vehicle is stationary or moving slowly during collection activities to enhance visibility.

Implementation should include guidelines for light patterns and intensities, drawing from successful models for construction vehicles.

Municipalities and private waste management companies would be encouraged to adopt these lights, with potential incentives for fleet upgrades.

This aligns with Pennsylvania's recent expansion for construction vehicles and could be phased in over 1-2 years to minimize costs.

Benefits and Rationale

Research supports the safety advantages of combining green and amber lights:

Amber lights are effective for caution signaling, cutting through fog and reducing glare, which helps alert drivers to hazards.

Adding green lights significantly improves vehicle conspicuity, especially in low-light or adverse weather conditions. Studies on winter maintenance vehicles show that green-amber combinations elicit stronger driver responses than amber alone.

Green lights are already used on service vehicles like snow plows in some states for non-emergency purposes, and in Pennsylvania for construction, without conflicting with emergency signaling (e.g., red/blue for police/fire).

By extending this to Refuse vehicles, we can reduce struck-by fatalities, protect essential workers, and promote compliance with move-over laws. This low-cost measure could save lives without impeding traffic flow.

Call to Action

We urge lawmakers to prioritize worker safety by introducing and passing legislation to authorize green and amber lights on garbage trucks. Sign this petition to support safer streets in Pennsylvania. Together, we can honor the dedication of waste collection workers and prevent unnecessary tragedies.