Road traffic control
Road traffic control involves directing vehicular and pedestrian traffic around a construction zone, accident or other road disruption, thus ensuring the safety of emergency response teams, construction workers and the general public.
Traffic control also includes the use of CCTV and other means of monitoring traffic by local or State roadways authorities to manage traffic flows and providing advice concerning traffic congestion. This is not dealt with in this article.
Traffic controllers (TC's) are often known as "lollipop men" from the appearance of their Stop/Slow signs, known as "Stop bats".
Overview
Typically, traffic control is an outdoors occupation, night or day for long hours in all weathers, and is considered a dangerous occupation due to the high likelihood of being struck by passing vehicles. Fatigue is a big issue, as tired TC's may forget to watch their traffic, or may inadvertently turn their "Stop bats" to the "Slow" position. Many drivers are annoyed by the disruption to their route, and some are sufficiently antisocial as to aim at traffic controllers. Other drivers simply don't pay enough attention to the road, often from using their mobile (cell-) phones, or because they are tired from a night shift at work. Not a few are exceeding the posted speed limit.
Typically, a worksite will be set up with warning signage well in advance of the actual work area. This may involve (in Australia) "Roadworks Ahead", temporary speed restrictions, "Worker Symbolic" (a stylised workman with a pile of rubble, black sihouette on a retroflective orange background), "Reduce Speed", "Lane Status" boards (indicating that some lanes on a multilane will be closed), "Prepare to Stop" and advisory signs telling what's happening (eg: Water Over Road, Trucks Entering, Power Line Works Ahead etc). If lanes have been closed, large flashing arrows (arrow-boards) on trailers may be utilised to give motorists hundreds of meters warning to move over. Motorists will be advised they are leaving a worksite by speed reinstatement or "End Roadworks" signs.
The worksite will usually involve reserving a part of the road for the work area. How this is done depends on the type of road: on a multi-lane road, one or more lanes will be closed off and traffic merged into the remaining lane(s), using cones and "Chevron" signs and arrow-boards to guide motorists. On a wide road (more than 3 meters per lane in Australia), traffic could be "diverted" around the work area by using cones to define a new road centerline and another line of cones around the work area. Sometimes, it is necessary to close a road and detour traffic.
Often, the road is not wide enough to permit opposing streams of traffic past the work area. Then it is necessary to use "Stop/Slow", where each stream is allowed past the work area in turn. On an intersection, this may involve four or more streams. At signalised intersections, it may be necessary to have the traffic lights disabled.
Sometimes on dual carriageways, it is necessary to divert one carriageway onto the opposing carriageway, forming a "contraflow". This cannot be done "on the fly", as high-speed (100+Km/H), high-volume (500 - 1000+ vehicles per hour) traffic is involved, generating a huge risk to workers. In this case advisory signs will be erected weeks or even months in advance, and new lanes defined by bollards anchored firmly to the road-base will be installed, usually at night when traffic is expected to be minimal. Programmable Variable Message Boards may be utilised at strategic locations to inform motorists. Such "contraflow" situations also pose significant risk to pedestrians who may not be alert to traffic coming from the wrong direction.
Australia
Traffic control is governed by the Australian Standard AS 1742.3 – 2002, and by State variations. Risk management is regulated under AS/NZS 4360:1999. Traffic controllers are required to wear high-visibility clothing which meets the Australian Standard AS/NZS 4602:1999.
Personal safety is emphasised in all Australian training. This ranges from proper clothing to learning appropriate behaviour, eg: always face oncoming traffic. Clothing is considered part of PPE—Personal Protective Equipment—which includes steel-capped boots, sunscreen, broad-brim hats, gloves and sunglasses.
A traffic control crew may consist of one person running a simple diversion or closure of a cul-de-sac, up to multiple two- or three-person crews for a complex task. One example of such a complex task is the transport of very wide loads taking all available roadspace, over several kilometers, usually on an arterial road or highway. In these cases, the affected roads can be closed or contraflowed for the entire day, creating enormous disruption to motorists. Management of the event involves monitoring and closing all intersections, Stop/Slow to work traffic streams through partially closed intersections, and detours. The amount of signage required can be staggering, needing some hours to put in place. Normally a single two-person crew with one ute is sufficient for most jobs.
Not all TC's are employed by dedicated traffic management companies. Many construction companies and government authorities employ their own traffic management. In these cases, TC's will work in other capacities when traffic management is not required.
Traffic control is generally not seen as a career for young people, but rather as a stop-gap while something better is sought. However, older people are often valued by employers for their life-experience, and find that the relatively light manual labour compensates for the discomforts and rigours of the job. There is a career path, but it is dictated by one's own ability and willingness to work.
Western Australia
Accreditation course standards and variations to the Australian Standards are regulated by Main Roads Western Australia (MRWA), part of the Ministry of Planning and Infrastructure.
In Western Australia, use of the Stop/Slow bat is authorised under Regulation 83 of the Road Traffic Code 2000—it is an offence to disobey a traffic controller's bat, punishable by 3 demerit points and 3 penalty units (about Au$175). Other States have similar provisions.
Traffic controllers must be accredited in Basic Worksite Traffic Management BCC3028A and the Worksite Traffic Controller Course BCC1014A. These qualifications must be renewed after three years, and a refresher course is necessary. The courses take about 4 hours each, and are designed as inductions to on-the-job training.
The Advanced Worksite Traffic Management (AWTM) requires two years experience as a qualified TC as a minimum prerequisite, and must also be renewed after three years. Roadworks Traffic Managers can be accredited with a minimum of five years experience, current "Road Safety Auditor" accreditation and current AWTM accreditation. This qualification is also valid for three years.
All employers require drug screening at least annually and often randomly; many employers require daily blood/alcohol tests; some require police clearance checks. Zero-tolerance is universal. Traffic controllers are usually employed on a casual basis, with wages around Au$16 to Au$25 per hour.
USA
While construction traffic control in the U.S. used to be a widely unionized profession with a starting wage of 13-14 dollars per hour, it is now dominated by private business and wages have decreased to 7-9 dollars per hour. Because of the sheer tedium of the job and the lack of opportunity for advancement, most traffic control companies hire indiscriminately. There are no drug tests, background checks, or references required. Certification is necessary, but it takes 2-3 hours to obtain and consists of watching a training video and taking a basic test that reviews the material covered in the video.[citation needed]
A construction traffic control company operates in the same basic way as any other construction company. Companies submit a bid for a job, the lowest bid is accepted (except in the case of disadvantaged companies), and the labor is provided to the contractor or agency in charge. Typically speaking, flaggers work in groups of 5 to 10 under a TCS, or Traffic Control Supervisor. The TCS is responsible for placing the flaggers correctly, ensuring that they receive the proper breaks and supervision, and placing the cautionary signs (such as Road Work Ahead, One Lane Road Ahead, Uneven Lanes, etc.).
Traffic control is not generally considered to be a very desirable career. Often it serves as a summer job for people who, for one reason or another, are incapable of normal social interation, or have a criminal record which prevents them from a more fulfilling occupation.[verification needed]
See also
- Reversible lane
- Traffic cones
- Road sign
- Traffic accident
- Road safety
- Intelligent Transportation System
External links
- MRWA website, go to Traffic > Roadworks > Traffic Management
- Automated Traffic Cone Placement-Retrieval Trailer
- U.S. Manual of traffic signs
- New Roads and Street Works Act 1991 U.K. law relating to traffic control