CLEVELAND – The City of Cleveland has deployed its first highway crash attenuator, marking a significant investment in protecting police officers, firefighters, EMS personnel, and members of the public who are involved in motor vehicle accidents or other emergencies along city highways.

The specialized truck-mounted attenuator serves a dual purpose to direct approaching motorists and protect Public Safety personnel and equipment working on or near the roadway. Approaching motorists will see a large (4’ by 8’) elevated illuminated directional arrow indicating which way to go around the incident above a message board indicating the reduced speed limit and passing drivers’ current rate of speed. Once deployed, the structure of the attenuator is designed to absorb the impact of a vehicle before it reaches an emergency scene, providing an added layer of protection for those working in some of the most dangerous environments.

The highway accident scene requires the Divisions of Police, Fire, and EMS to cooperate in real time to achieve a synergistic effect. Any Division may arrive to the scene first and must perform life-saving interventions, potentially without assistance from others and before establishing a complete “protected” work zone.

"Highway incidents are among the most dangerous calls our personnel respond to," said Director of Public Safety Wayne Drummond. "This equipment gives our first responders another critical layer of protection while they carry out their duties. It's an investment in their safety, their families, and the communities they serve."

This milestone carries special significance as the City continues to honor the sacrifices of first responders who have lost their lives in roadway incidents. During the past eight years, a Cleveland police officer, a Cleveland firefighter, and an Ohio State Highway Patrol trooper were killed in separate traffic-related incidents within the city limits. While no single piece of equipment can eliminate every potential hazard, the crash attenuator is designed to reduce the risk of serious injury or death by directing drivers and shielding responders and fire trucks from approaching vehicles.

Cleveland Fire Ladder trucks will still be deployed to accident scenes. Unlike the attenuator, ladder trucks can block multiple lanes of traffic. But with a purchase price of over $1M each, fire trucks do a lot more than block traffic. The attenuator, known as “Blocker 1”, is an investment in protecting these resources.

“Another benefit for Blocker 1 is keeping our ladder trucks in service and ready to respond to structure fires and other emergencies as needed,” said Acting Fire Chief Wayne Naida. “When our trucks are hit while blocking on the highway, the damage can put them out of service for months.”

Cleveland is the first of municipality in Ohio to deploy a dedicated highway blocker or crash attenuator vehicle, excluding those used by the Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) or private contractors. This investment represents the City’s commitment to the safety of our first responders and motorists alike. By further reducing risks on Cleveland's highways, the Department of Public Safety and Division of Risk Management continue to prioritize safety for all first responders and travelers in Cleveland.