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Traffic Control
is the way you keep traffic away from the workzone
from doing a lot of damage to you, to equipment.
and to the job you are doing
most highway workzones these days are in areas that have already been built
Either being added on to, being rebuilt
or simply being maintained.
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There are fewer new construction projects
going on where you are completely away from public traffic
but even in these situations your probably going
to be connecting up with or crossing roads
so anyway you look at it you are going to working
around travel. And that's where traffic control comes in.
The biggest problem with traffic is that most
travelers aren't expecting you to be there in the first place.
They are expecting a clear path to where they are going.
Foe people who have driven the same road for many
years without slowing down. A workzone can be most
unexpected and unwelcome
so what do you do?
First you have to get their attention.
Warn them that you are out there
look around you thats the idea we all know.
That it doesn't always happen that easily.
The hard part is getting their attention especially
if there are hills or curves that get in the way of a clear
view of the road ahead. If drivers can't
see over that hill you are gonna be in trouble quick.
the location
the location
of signs barricades and other control measures
should be part of the traffic control plan developed
specifically for each worksite.
This should be done well before any body gets out to the site.
You have got to know what you are gonna do before you
go out. A good thing to do is
first make the exact locations where individual signs
should go.
Then when you go out to set them up you won't be making any mistakes or be wondering
if you did it right. Out here you'd better
you would better do it right the first time. There is no room
for mistakes. Don't forget
your the first ones out there, so you are the first ones
somebody is gonna run into.
Set up the first sign traffic gonna see first then
put up the rest of the signs and markers in the directions of traffic flow.
flow. Keep your vehicle completely off
the road. If the shoulders are narrow use
driveways or field entrances.
If it is windy, one person is gonna have a tough time.
Even in a small wind a sign can act
like a sail and blow you right into the traffic.
And on interstates the wind is always
blowing. If not from natural causes then from
the back wash of trucks. Once
the lane starts to close traffic signals
flaggers, and pilot cars should be operating.
Barricades or cones seperating
the workzone from the traffic zone are guides for traffic
to know where not to go but they are also guides
for you too. SO you know where you are in relation to that
traffic. They draw and imaginary line
between you and the traffic.
Trouble is, anybody can cross that line, in any direction.
Trouble is, anybody can cross that line, in any direction.
Some times you have to cross that line if
you do and you are not awake you might find yourself
in the wrong lane at the wrong time.
Even for and instance and an instance is all it takes.
Flaggers are the second line of attention
for drivers, actually they are the first people
in the workzone to face approaching traffic its one of the
most responsible jobs in construction.
Flaggers are everyone's eyes and ears. If they
playing around not paying attention just remember you
life is in their hands.
It's one of the most responsible jobs because of the most dangerous.
They are the ones who are gonna catch the heat
they have got to slwo down or stop antbody
who doesn't pay attention to those first warning signs
if you are a flagger you might safer when you have vehicles
already stopped ahead of you but as that line
gets longer it only adds to the possibility of a
rear-ender.
This is where most rear-end accidents happen when traffic
is stopped on the roadway
That's why on interstates
traffic through the workzone doesn't stop.
Speeds are so fast that even when
traffic just slows down it can pile up real quick.
traffic here can be crazy. Traffic
racing to the lane closure. Vehicles backed up for
miles. The imaginary line seperating
traffic from the workzone gets broken alot.
Your traffic control is your first line of
defense and it cannot be compromised.
If traffic can't see your traffic control or doesn't
know its there you are gonna be in a lot of trouble.
Maintaining your control
can be a tricky situation, but it has to be done.
Any time you share the space as traffic your asking
for trouble. A 200lbs is
no match for an 80,000lbs truck.
The same is true between a speeding truck and
a slow moving one. Everyone loses
in this situation if your traffic control isn't working
for you.
It's not all bad news
out there. You can be safe.
But it is a 2-way proposition, safety measures such as flaggers
reflective vest, warning signs and lights
do a good job of keeping traffic from crossing that imaginary line.
And research into other devices
continues to improve our ability to warn approaching traffic
to be on the alert. More
and more states are taking an active role in grabbing drivers
attention and keeping it.
but technology and driver incentives
are only part of the answer. They won't stop everybody.
That's where you come in.
You have to take responsibility for your own safety.
For instance, every once in a while look over
your shoulder, see where you are in relation to equipment
and the other people around you. Nothing stays the same
for long in a workzone. And then check out the
traffic outside your work area. You dont have to do it all the time
just a quick glance.
It doesn't sound like much but if everyone around you does the same thing at different times
it just might mean having a few seconds
or a couple extra steps to avoid a deadly situation.
It's a buddy system where everybody watches out for everybody else.
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When the day is done and you ready to move off the road
don't forget that even though you have seen a 1000 vehicles
pass you by all day long, the next guy coming towards you
is seeing you for hte first time and may not even
realize you are there.
So keep the warning signs up as long as possible. Remove your traffic
control towards the on coming traffic.
The last sign you put up should be the first you take down.
Last up - first down
And if you have cleared the road and you are coming back tomorrow
to reset your traffic control don't leave your signs up
If there isn't anything for drivers to watch out for
don't warn them. Don't cry wolf!
If you do, drivers won't believe you the next time they see the work zone
and you will be sorry.
The point is, you can be safe out there but
only when you help the public keep out of your way
by giving them fair warning of where you are
and you can be safe when you keep out of the public's way.
By knowing where you are and knowing whats going on
around you at all times. There's not much
room to make a mistake.
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