PIC Work Zone Safety & Traffic Control 2 ā Questions and Answers
Question 1: According to MUTCD standards, what is the minimum taper length formula for a merging taper on a roadway with a 45 mph posted speed and a 12-foot lane closure?
- L = W Ć S (feet) (Correct answer)
- L = W Ć SĀ² / 60 (feet)
- L = W Ć S / 2 (feet)
- L = W Ć SĀ² / 120 (feet)
Correct answer: L = W Ć S (feet)
For speeds 45 mph and above, the merging taper length formula is L = W Ć S, where W is the offset distance in feet and S is the posted speed in mph.
Question 2: A flagger in a work zone must wear a high-visibility safety vest rated at minimum:
- ANSI/ISEA Class 1
- ANSI/ISEA Class 2
- ANSI/ISEA Class 3 (Correct answer)
- ANSI/ISEA Class 4
Correct answer: ANSI/ISEA Class 3
Flaggers must wear ANSI/ISEA Class 3 high-visibility apparel because they are exposed to high traffic speeds and require maximum visibility.
Question 3: Which sign is typically the FIRST advance warning sign motorists encounter when approaching a highway work zone?
- Road Work Ahead (W20-1) (Correct answer)
- Flagger (W20-7A)
- One Lane Road Ahead (W20-4)
- Be Prepared to Stop (W3-4)
Correct answer: Road Work Ahead (W20-1)
The 'Road Work Ahead' (W20-1) sign is the first warning sign placed upstream to alert drivers that a work zone is ahead.
Question 4: What is the primary purpose of a buffer space in a work zone traffic control setup?
- Provide room for equipment storage
- Protect workers and equipment from errant vehicles (Correct answer)
- Separate opposing traffic lanes
- Allow flaggers to stand safely
Correct answer: Protect workers and equipment from errant vehicles
Buffer spaces are unoccupied areas that provide a safety cushion between live traffic and the work activity area or workers, protecting them from errant vehicles.
Question 5: Under OSHA 29 CFR 1926 Subpart G, who is responsible for ensuring a Traffic Control Plan (TCP) is in place before roadway work begins?
- The flagger supervisor
- The paving crew foreman
- The employer/contractor (Correct answer)
- The state DOT inspector
Correct answer: The employer/contractor
Under OSHA 29 CFR 1926 Subpart G, the employer (contractor) is responsible for implementing and maintaining adequate traffic control plans before work begins.
Question 6: A temporary rumble strip placed in a work zone approach is intended to:
- Mark the edge of the travel lane
- Alert inattentive drivers to slow down (Correct answer)
- Indicate the start of a lane closure taper
- Separate opposing traffic flows
Correct answer: Alert inattentive drivers to slow down
Temporary rumble strips are placed in work zone approaches to alert inattentive or drowsy drivers through tactile and auditory feedback to reduce their speed.
Question 7: When two flaggers are used to control traffic through a single-lane section, which signaling protocol must they follow?
- Both flaggers signal simultaneously
- Upstream flagger controls release; downstream flagger holds opposing traffic until the pilot car clears (Correct answer)
- Either flagger may release traffic independently
- Downstream flagger signals first, then upstream flagger releases
Correct answer: Upstream flagger controls release; downstream flagger holds opposing traffic until the pilot car clears
In two-flagger operations, the upstream flagger releases traffic only after the downstream flagger confirms opposing traffic is stopped, preventing head-on conflicts.
PIC Work Zone Safety & Traffic Control 2
According to MUTCD standards, what is the minimum taper length formula for a merging taper on a roadway with a 45 mph posted speed and a 12-foot lane closure?