MOT Flagging Operations & Procedures 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: When a flagger must communicate with a driver who cannot hear verbal commands, what is the proper action?
- Use a whistle and hand signals together
- Use eye contact and exaggerated hand motions (Correct answer)
- Step into the roadway to block the vehicle
- Call for law enforcement assistance immediately
Correct answer: Use eye contact and exaggerated hand motions
Flaggers should use eye contact and exaggerated hand motions to communicate with drivers who cannot hear verbal instructions.
Question 2: What is the minimum distance upstream that an advance warning sign must be placed in a 45 mph zone on a rural highway?
- 100 feet
- 250 feet
- 500 feet (Correct answer)
- 1,000 feet
Correct answer: 500 feet
MUTCD guidelines require advance warning signs to be placed at least 500 feet upstream in 45 mph rural highway zones.
Question 3: A flagger is stationed at a one-lane, two-way operation. What signal tells traffic to proceed?
- Waving the flag overhead in a circular motion
- Holding the flag at a 45-degree downward angle
- Facing traffic and extending the flag horizontally (Correct answer)
- Displaying the SLOW paddle while facing away from traffic
Correct answer: Facing traffic and extending the flag horizontally
Flaggers face oncoming traffic and extend the flag or SLOW paddle horizontally as a proceed signal.
Question 4: Which of the following is an unsafe practice for a flagger in low-visibility conditions such as fog or heavy rain?
- Wearing retroreflective Class 3 vest
- Using a light wand in addition to the flag
- Standing in the travel lane to be more visible (Correct answer)
- Coordinating with the pilot car operator by radio
Correct answer: Standing in the travel lane to be more visible
Flaggers must never stand in the active travel lane; they should remain in the shoulder or a safe position outside traffic flow.
Question 5: When escorting traffic through a work zone with a pilot car, which vehicle should the pilot car follow?
- The first vehicle in the queue
- The last vehicle in the queue
- It drives ahead of the queue (Correct answer)
- It remains stationary at the flagging station
Correct answer: It drives ahead of the queue
The pilot car leads the queue of vehicles through the work zone, traveling ahead of the traffic it is escorting.
Question 6: A flagger notices a vehicle not slowing down as it approaches the STOP station. What is the recommended first response?
- Step into the lane and raise both hands
- Alert co-workers and move to a safe escape route (Correct answer)
- Wave the flag vigorously to attract attention
- Radio the opposite flagger to stop all traffic immediately
Correct answer: Alert co-workers and move to a safe escape route
Flaggers should first protect themselves by moving to a pre-planned escape route while alerting others when a vehicle fails to stop.
Question 7: What does a flagger do with the STOP/SLOW paddle while waiting for traffic to clear before releasing the queue?
- Hold SLOW side toward oncoming traffic
- Hold STOP side toward the queue being held (Correct answer)
- Lay the paddle on the ground to signal a break
- Wave the paddle to acknowledge waiting drivers
Correct answer: Hold STOP side toward the queue being held
While holding traffic, the flagger keeps the STOP face displayed toward the queued vehicles to maintain the stopped condition.
MOT Flagging Operations & Procedures 2
When a flagger must communicate with a driver who cannot hear verbal commands, what is the proper action?