PIC Work Zone Safety & Traffic Control 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which type of temporary traffic control device is used specifically to channelize traffic around a work zone and is NOT intended to stop vehicles?
- Crash cushion
- Portable concrete barrier
- Traffic cone (Correct answer)
- Truck-mounted attenuator
Correct answer: Traffic cone
Traffic cones are lightweight channelizing devices used to guide and separate traffic from the work area but are not designed to stop or redirect errant vehicles.
Question 2: The 'transition area' in a work zone Traffic Control Plan is defined as the section where:
- Work activity is actively occurring
- Traffic speed is reduced to work zone speed
- Traffic shifts from normal path to alternate path (Correct answer)
- Workers stage equipment before entering the zone
Correct answer: Traffic shifts from normal path to alternate path
The transition area is where traffic is redirected from its normal path to the path required to navigate around the work zone using tapers and channelizing devices.
Question 3: According to MUTCD, portable changeable message signs (PCMS) in work zones should have a minimum character height of:
- 6 inches
- 12 inches
- 18 inches (Correct answer)
- 24 inches
Correct answer: 18 inches
MUTCD requires portable changeable message signs to have a minimum character height of 18 inches to ensure legibility at appropriate distances on roadways.
Question 4: A truck-mounted attenuator (TMA) used in a work zone is classified as:
- A channelizing device
- A warning device
- A crash cushion/impact attenuator (Correct answer)
- A regulatory device
Correct answer: A crash cushion/impact attenuator
A TMA is a crash cushion or impact attenuator mounted on a shadow truck that absorbs energy from errant vehicles to reduce the severity of crashes in work zones.
Question 5: Which MUTCD work zone sign background color is used for temporary traffic control signs?
- Yellow
- Orange (Correct answer)
- Red
- White
Correct answer: Orange
Orange background color is designated by the MUTCD specifically for temporary traffic control signs in work zones to distinguish them from permanent signs.
Question 6: When a paving inspector identifies that a lane closure setup has inadequate advance warning distance, the FIRST action should be:
- Continue work and note it in the daily report
- Stop all work immediately until corrected (Correct answer)
- Notify the flagger to reduce traffic speed
- Contact the state DOT for guidance
Correct answer: Stop all work immediately until corrected
An inadequate advance warning distance is an immediate safety hazard; work must stop until the traffic control setup is corrected to meet required standards.
Question 7: What is the recommended longitudinal buffer space (in feet) between the last advance warning sign and the start of a taper on a 55 mph roadway?
- 100–200 feet
- 200–500 feet
- 500–1,000 feet (Correct answer)
- 1,000–1,500 feet
Correct answer: 500–1,000 feet
MUTCD Table 6C-1 recommends a longitudinal buffer space of approximately 500–1,000 feet between the last advance warning sign and the taper on roads with 55 mph posted speeds.
PIC Work Zone Safety & Traffic Control 3
Which type of temporary traffic control device is used specifically to channelize traffic around a work zone and is NOT intended to stop vehicles?