When unusual conditions exist on a roadway, a traffic control flagger’s job is to maintain safe conditions on the road. These issues could be caused construction, emergency vehicles, or an unexpected obstruction on the road, such as a car accident or a downed tree. Using standardized symbols and gestures, the traffic control flagger informs vehicles of the appropriate action to take, ensuring the safety of both motorists and road workers.
Some areas require traffic control flaggers to be certified a regulatory agency because this is a skilled job with a lot of responsibility. In some cases, skills are acquired on the job. A traffic control flagger must have a thorough understanding of traffic laws, as well as knowledge of the standardized flagger signals used in the area where he or she works. He or she must also be able to operate all of the necessary equipment.
Depending on where you work, you’ll need different skills to be a traffic control flagger. This is due to the fact that the knowledge required to be a flagger in, say, Japan differs from that required in Australia. In different areas, different signs, signals, and traffic conventions may be used.
Among the many tools at a traffic control flagger’s disposal, the signs and gestures used to warn motorists of impending hazards are among the most important. Signs instructing drivers to slow down or stop, traffic cones to direct traffic, and hand signals to communicate more quickly or in lieu of these other measures are among them. These may be supplemented at night with lighted signs and signal batons. A brightly colored, often reflective uniform is also important for safety, as it makes the flagger visible to drivers. Handheld walkie talkies, for example, are less visible than other tools but may be even more important because they allow flaggers to coordinate and communicate quickly when conditions change.
Most of the time, a traffic control flagger is only used when the road conditions aren’t permanent. If the condition was permanent and no one was in danger, an electronic signal and signs could be used to notify drivers of the change in the road. Machines designed to perform the function of a traffic control flagger are used in some countries instead of human workers. This is thought to provide road workers with the same level of safety as a human worker, but with less human error, lower costs, and no hazardous working conditions caused traffic.