1. A method comprising: receiving, at a computing device of a vehicle, an image of an environment of the vehicle, wherein the image includes a plurality of pixels having respective red color values, green color values, and blue color values; identifying given pixels in the plurality of pixels having one or more of: (i) a red color value greater than a green color value, and (ii) the red color value greater than a blue color value; making a comparison between one or more characteristics of a shape of an object represented by the given pixels in the image and corresponding one or more characteristics of a predetermined shape of a road flare; determining one or more motion characteristics of the object represented by the given pixels; determining, using the computing device, a likelihood that the object represents the road flare based at least on (i) the comparison, and (ii) the one or more motion characteristics of the object, such that the likelihood is increased when the one or more motion characteristics indicate that the object remains stationary; and controlling the vehicle based on the likelihood.