Traffic Control and Direction

Effective Traffic Control

• Wear high-visibility clothing, proper lighting (orange wand), and general clothing suitable for different weather conditions (rain, cold, hot)
• Position yourself in the roadway to evaluate the intersection, command a full view of the intersection, and consider having more than one officer if necessary

Signals and Gestures

• Use the front and back of your body to signal STOP
• Make clear movements with your arms, ensuring motorists can see and understand
• Establish command presence and maintain eye contact
• Use the "arm out, palm out" signal to indicate STOP

Whistle

• Carry a whistle at all times, and prefer a plastic one
• Attach the whistle to your coat or shirt with a chain
• Use one loud, long blast to signal STOP, and two loud, short blasts to signal GO (time to move)

Responsibilities of Traffic Direction

• Eliminate blocked intersections
• Assist turns
• Protect pedestrians
• Clear one lane for emergency vehicles

Electric Signal Box

• Identify the yellow box on the corner
• Test the hand direction before use
• Understand the switches, including on/off reset circuit breakers
• Know how to operate flashers and switch to manual mode using the hand button

Emergency Traffic Control

• Use police vehicles and equipment to block intersections and detour traffic
• Channel traffic from greater lanes to lesser lanes
• Control freeway traffic with high-visibility equipment and multiple officers

Warning Devices

• Use railroad-type fuses (flares) with caution, as they are most dangerous when igniting
• Ensure flares are visible from a distance and do not need to be upright
• Avoid stepping on flares to put them out, and instead, pick them up and rub them out in the earth when finished

Placing Warning Devices

• Start from behind the scene and work towards traffic
• Never turn your back on traffic
• Place flares 20-25 feet apart near the scene, gradually increasing the distance farther from the scene
• Consider the speed of traffic when determining the number of flares to use (e.g., 60mph equals 90 ft.per second)
• Place flares on curves to warn traffic approaching
• Place flares on hills before the crest