 Traffic control is the way you keep traffic away from the work zone and doing a lot of damage to you, to equipment, and to the job you're doing. Most highway work zones these days are in areas that have already been built, either being added onto, being rebuilt, or simply being maintained. There's fewer new construction projects going on where you're completely away from public traffic. But even in these situations, you're probably going to be connecting up with or crossing existing roads. So any way you look at it, you're going to be working around traffic, 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're expecting a clear, unobstructed path to where they're going. For people who've driven the same road for many years without slowing down, a work zone can be most unexpected and unwelcome. So what do you do? First, you have to get their attention. Warn them that you're out there. Then you have to guide them quickly and safely around you. That's the ideal. We all know 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 you around that bend or on the other side of that hill, you're going to be in trouble quick. The location of signs, barricades, and other control measures should be part of the traffic control plan developed specifically for each work site. This should be done well before anybody ever gets out to the site. You've got to know what you're going to do before you go out. A good thing to do is first mark 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 do it right the first time. There's no room for mistakes. Don't forget, you're the first ones out there, so you're the first one somebody is going to run into. Set up the first sign that traffic's going to see first. Then, put up the rest of the signs and markers in the direction of traffic flow. Keep your vehicle completely off the road. If the shoulders are narrow, use driveways or field entrances. If it's windy, one person is going to have a tough time of it. 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 backwash of trucks. Once the lane starts to close, traffic signals, flaggers, and pilot cars should be operating. Barricades or cones separating the work zone from the traffic zone are guides for traffic to know where not to go. But they're also guides for you too, so you know where you are in relation to that traffic. They draw an imaginary line between you and the traffic. Trouble is, anybody can cross that line in any direction at any time. Sometimes you have to cross that line. If you do and you're not awake, you might find yourself in the wrong lane at the wrong time, even for an instant. And an instant is all it takes. Flaggers are the second line of attention for drivers. Actually, they're the first people in the work zone to face approaching traffic. It's one of the most responsible jobs in construction. Flaggers are everyone's eyes and ears. If they're playing around, not paying attention, just remember, your life is in their hands. It's one of the most responsible jobs because it's one of the most dangerous. They're the ones who are going to catch the heat. They've got to slow down or stop anybody who doesn't pay attention to those first warning signs. If you're a flagger, you might feel safer when you've got several 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 work zone 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 separating traffic from the work zone gets broken a lot. Your traffic control is your first line of defense and it can't be compromised. If traffic can't see your traffic control or doesn't know it's there, you're going to be in a lot of trouble real quick. Maintaining your controls can be a tricky situation, but it has to be done. Anytime you share the same space as traffic, you're asking for trouble. A 200 pound person is no match for an 80,000 pound 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's a two way proposition. Safety measures such as flaggers, reflective vests, warning signs and lights do a good job of keeping traffic from crossing that imaginary line. And research and 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. Ultimately, 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 work zone. And then check out the traffic outside of your work area. You don't 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 couple of extra seconds or a couple extra steps to avoid a deadly situation. It's a buddy system where everybody watches out for everybody else. When the day is done and you're ready to move off the road, don't forget that even though you've seen a thousand vehicles pass you by all day long, that next guy coming toward you is seeing you for the first time and may not even realize you're there. So keep the early warning signs up as long as possible. Remove your traffic control towards the oncoming traffic. The last sign you put up should be the first you take down. Last up, first down. And if you've cleared the road and you're 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 warning and you'll be the sorrier for it. 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 what's going on around you at all times. There's not much room to make a mistake.