Autonomous convoy trucks protect road crews

Colorado is deploying unmanned crash‑protection trucks that follow a lead maintenance vehicle and absorb work‑zone impacts, eliminating the need for a driver in the 'sacrificial' truck. The leader records its route and streams navigation to the follower, with sensors and remote override for safety; each retrofit costs about $1 million. This constrained 'leader‑follower' autonomy is a practical path for AVs that saves lives now. — It reframes autonomous vehicles as targeted, safety‑first public deployments rather than consumer robo‑cars, shaping procurement, labor safety policy, and public acceptance of AI.