Flaggers – the unsung heroes of road construction

They can be seen on every major highway, road, and bridge that is getting improvements. With a two-way radio in one hand and a STOP/SLOW sign in the other, they keep visitors and citizens moving past construction zones. 


It was one of my first jobs. Becoming a Traffic Control Flagger is what gave me my first real introduction to the industry that would become my life’s work. 


Flaggers, officially known as Traffic Control Flaggers, have the primary goal of keeping their coworkers and motorists safe by communicating with drivers and teammates as people navigate a construction zone. 


They accomplish that goal by placing traffic cones to shut down lanes, using signs, flags, and hand signals to communicate with drivers, and sometimes even record license plate numbers of dangerous/disrespectful drivers and report them to police.


Traffic Control Flaggers require training and often certification, depending on the state. However, there is often no experience required to get started. This lack of consensus is presenting some added risk to flaggers in states like Alabama and Michigan that require no training and no certification for flaggers. 


This risk is furthered by the uptick in distracted driving. 


Drivers who aren't paying attention for any length of time—whether answering a phone call, sending a text message, or getting distracted by a passenger—are 29 times more likely to be involved in a collision or near collision in a highway work zone, a new study shows. Researchers collected data from more than 3,000 drivers traveling more than 50 million miles from 2006-2015 for the study conducted by the University of Missouri College of Engineering.  “Prior to this study, we knew that narrow lanes in work zones are less safe than wider lanes and similarly, speeding in work zones is correlated with injury severity. With this unique data set, it also allows us to see the responsibility the driver has in increasing work zone safety.” said Praveen Edara, a professor of civil and environmental engineering at the University of Missouri College of Engineering. The study starts out explaining that a  vehicle traveling at 55 mph covers a distance greater than a football field in five seconds. The average text takes approximately five seconds to read, “that’s at least a football field’s worth of driver inattention. Texting while driving is dangerous, and possibly even fatal, especially in a highway work zone.” Traffic Control Flagger positions are not for everyone, obviously the job is dangerous. They are essential to the lifeblood of the industry and vital teammates in keeping people as safe as possible.  I hope that drivers will take their responsibilities seriously to keep flaggers and road construction employees safe.


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