The Indiana Department of Transportation is launching a new effort to improve safety for highway workers in construction zones.

The program, called Project Greenlight, equips crews with wearable devices that flash bright green to make workers more visible to drivers, especially at night or during bad weather.

INDOT says a study by the Battelle Memorial Institute found the lights can make workers up to 89 percent more visible when used with high-visibility vests.The green color was selected because it can be seen from longer distances and stands out from standard work zone lighting.

The lights were tested last fall in several areas of the state, including northwest Indiana, the Indianapolis region, and southeast Indiana.INDOT plans to distribute about 375 devices statewide, starting in the northwest district.

Commissioner Lyndsay Quist says the goal is to encourage drivers to slow down and move over when approaching work zones.

The idea came from an internal employee innovation program focused on improving safety and efficiency.