Honoring first responders: Working together to keep our roads safe

First responders are the backbone of roadway safety, managing crash scenes, directing traffic, and aiding those in need with skill, professionalism, and courage. On National First Responders Day, we honor their extraordinary service.

At Aurora, our commitment to safety extends to everyone on the road, including first responders.

Partnerships Grounded in Safety

Technology should help, not hinder, the vital work of first responders. We partner with public safety agencies to ensure our technology is designed, tested, and deployed safely. Across Texas and other states, we’ve partnered with agencies that share our commitment to safety:

• Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS): Ensuring our procedures and readiness for on-road incidents involving autonomous vehicles are understood.

• Frisco Police & Fire Department: Supporting our development work around intersection behavior and traffic flow while helping us ensure safe community operations.

• U.S. Border Patrol: Working together to enable safe, efficient navigation through checkpoints, informed by their operational expertise and feedback.

• Ohio State Highway Patrol: Partnering to develop procedures and readiness research for on-road incidents involving autonomous vehicles, and to support intersection behavior research.

First responders risk their lives daily on our nation’s roadways. Aurora is committed to designing technology that supports safer roadside interactions.

Our foundational safety work enabled Aurora to become the first company to commercially deploy self-driving big rigs on public roads, establishing the ecosystem for the future of autonomous freight. This included: 

• Hosting hands-on trainings and demonstrations that give first responders real-world experience interacting safely with autonomous trucks.

• Working alongside fire, EMS, and law enforcement agencies in simulated and live exercises to test and improve how the Aurora Driver responds when emergency vehicles are present.

• Developing practical tools like the Aurora First Responders Guide, providing clear, accessible information to support first responders in the field.  

A Shared Commitment to Safer Roads 

As we scale our autonomous trucking operations, we’ll continue partnering with first responder agencies, providing training, sharing resources, and ensuring every interaction with our vehicles is safe and predictable.

We’re proud to stand alongside the people who dedicate their lives to protecting others. To all first responders — thank you for your service, your partnership, and your commitment to safety. If you’re a first responder interested in learning more, visit aurora.tech/safety and explore our First Responders Guide and partnership resources.

Together, we’re building a safer future for everyone on the road.