FREDERICTON, N.B. — The Department of Transportation is changing the color of its maintenance vehicles from green to yellow according to transport chief Percy Mockler.

“Changing the color of our road maintenance fleet is smart management,” Mockler insists. “It will mean improved safety for the public and our staff, and cost savings for taxpayers.”

As a result of this change, all new vehicles purchased by the department, such as trucks and graders, will be yellow. Vehicles that are already part of the department’s maintenance fleet will be painted yellow over the next six years, beginning with the newest models.

He stresses, however, that older vehicles scheduled for replacement within that time will not be re-painted.

A study conducted by the Transportation Association of Canada indicates governments should standardize the color of road maintenance vehicles — one bright enough to make them easily identifiable and recommended yellow. Most other provinces in Canada have adopted yellow for their maintenance vehicles.

Additionally, New Brunswick’s green paint spec came at a premium for taxpayers every time new equipment was purchased. The Department of Transportation has approximately 1,200 pieces of equipment in its maintenance fleet.