Enhancing Safety for Roadside Workers on Pocahontas Parkway
Pocahontas Parkway is taking an important step to help protect the people who work every day along our roadway by introducing Guardian Angel Elite Series White/Yellow Safety Lights for employees. These wearable safety lights are designed to dramatically improve visibility for workers who operate near active traffic and support Virginia’s Move Over for Everyone law.
Roadside work can be unpredictable. Parkway employees regularly assist customers in toll lanes, inspect equipment, perform maintenance, clear debris, and support temporary lane closures—often just feet from passing vehicles traveling at highway speeds. These tasks are especially challenging during nighttime hours, heavy traffic, or bad weather, when it can be harder for drivers to see people working nearby.
The Guardian Angel Elite Series adds an extra layer of protection by making workers easier to see from every direction. The device emits bright, 360‑degree LED light that allows approaching drivers to notice roadside activity sooner and from farther away. Unlike reflective clothing or small clip‑on lights, the Guardian Angel system provides consistent, high‑intensity illumination, even around curves, merge areas, and locations where traffic approaches from multiple angles. Built to withstand tough weather conditions, the lights are designed for dependable, year‑round use.
By increasing visibility, Pocahontas Parkway is helping drivers react earlier—giving them more time to slow down, move over, and navigate roadside activity safely. This added awareness helps reduce risk for workers and contributes to safer travel for everyone using the Parkway.
Supporting the Move Over Law and Roadside Worker Safety on Pocahontas Parkway
Virginia’s Move Over law requires drivers to slow down or change lanes when approaching any stopped vehicle displaying hazard lights, including maintenance crews, tow trucks, and disabled vehicles. While many people associate the law with emergency responders, it also protects the teams who maintain and operate roadways like Pocahontas Parkway.
Making roadside workers more visible plays a vital role in helping drivers recognize when the law applies and respond appropriately.
Why Visibility Matters
Visibility is one of the most effective ways to improve roadside safety. When drivers can clearly see workers, vehicles, and equipment ahead, they are better prepared to slow down, move over, and drive with extra caution. Clear visual cues signal that traffic conditions are changing and that people are working close to the roadway.
Better visibility gives drivers more time to react and helps reduce sudden braking or last‑second lane changes that can increase the risk of crashes. Making roadside activity easy to see—day or night—supports safer decisions and helps protect everyone on the road.
Encouraging Drivers to Slow Down and Move Over
By improving how clearly roadside workers can be seen, Guardian Angel safety lights help make safe driving behavior more intuitive. When motorists spot workers from a distance, they’re more likely to slow down and move over smoothly and confidently.
These enhanced visibility measures help reduce the risk of collisions and provide added protection for roadside workers—while also creating a safer, calmer driving environment for all who travel on Pocahontas Parkway.
