Minnesota Department of Transportation

511 Travel Info

Work Zone Safety

Vehicle lighting specifications

  • Applies to all contractors’, subcontractors’, and suppliers’ mobile equipment working in the lane closure or within 15 feet of the lane closure. Including closed roads that are open to local traffic only.
  • Only amber lights are acceptable on construction operations.
  • At least one light must be visible at all times at a height of 3.5 feet, seen 360 degrees from a 60 foot radius around the equipment. In order to meet these requirements supplemental lighting (must be SAE Class 1 certified) may be used in addition to the primary light.
  •  Lights should be turned on only while the vehicle is working on the project, and when entering and exiting the work zone.
Tandem axle dump truck with proper approved safety lighting.

Tandem-axle dump truck with proper approved safety lighting.

Rear of tandem axle dump truck with proper approved lighting package. Light can be seen at all times from sixty feet away.

Rear of tandem-axle dump truck with proper approved lighting package. Light can be seen at all times 60 feet away.

Belly dump truck with a non-approved lighting package. The rotating beacon (to the left of the cab clearance lights) cannot be seen 360 degrees around the truck.

Belly-dump truck with a non-approved lighting package. The rotating beacon (to the left of the cab clearance lights) cannot be seen 360 degrees around the truck.

Roller working on a project with approved safety lighting.

Roller working on a project with approved safety lighting.

Roller working on a project with approved safety lighting.

Paver working on a project with approved safety lighting.