Managing traffic safely and efficiently is imperative for busy streets, construction zones, and public spaces. Whether you’re directing vehicles, protecting pedestrians, or organizing a work site, the right traffic control products play a massive role in maintaining order and preventing accidents.
This beginner’s guide covers traffic control products, their uses, and why they are indispensable for safety and smooth traffic flow.
Why are Traffic Control Products Important?
Traffic control products are important because they help manage traffic and warn or alert drivers of changes in speeds or road conditions. The goal of these devices is to prevent accidents and injuries while encouraging smooth traffic flow.
Traffic Control Products and Their Uses
Suppliers offer a wide range of traffic control products, but we’ve highlighted some of the most common ones used in construction projects and events, along with their functions.
Traffic Signs
Traffic signs are visual communication tools that provide important information, warnings, and regulations to drivers and pedestrians. They help maintain road safety by indicating speed limits, road conditions, and directions, which helps with orderly traffic flow.
Traffic Cones and Delineators
Traffic cones and delineators are lightweight, durable, highly visible devices used to guide vehicles and pedestrians through temporary traffic changes or construction zones. They help prevent accidents by marking hazards, lane closures, and work areas for clear navigation.
Barricades and Barriers
Barricades and barriers are physical structures designed to control or restrict traffic flow in hazardous areas, work zones, or restricted zones. They provide safety by preventing vehicles from entering dangerous areas and protecting workers or pedestrians from potential risks.
Pavement Markers
Pavement markers are reflective or non-reflective raised devices embedded or affixed to road surfaces to improve lane visibility and traffic guidance, especially at night or in adverse weather conditions. They are designed to help boost road safety by clearly delineating lanes, indicating turns, and reinforcing traffic regulations for drivers.
Traffic Signals and Beacons
Traffic signals and beacons are electronic devices that control the movement of vehicles and pedestrians through the use of lights, often in intersections and high-risk areas. They help reduce accidents and congestion by coordinating traffic flow and providing clear right-of-way instructions.
Traffic Drums
Traffic drums are large, highly visible, plastic barrels used to alert and guide drivers around road construction zones or lane closures. Their reflective stripes enhance visibility, and their durable, lightweight design allows for easy repositioning and impact absorption.
Traffic Flags
Traffic flags are handheld or mounted high-visibility flags used by flaggers to direct traffic in construction zones, emergency areas, or special events. They help promote safety by providing a clear, manual signal to stop, slow, or direct vehicles when automated signals are unavailable.
Speed Bump
A speed bump is a raised, rounded pavement feature designed to slow down vehicles in areas where low-speed travel is critical, such as school zones and parking lots. By forcing drivers to reduce speed, speed bumps can protect pedestrians and prevent reckless driving.
How To Pick the Right Traffic Control Products
If you have a road construction project or upcoming event, you’ll want to select the right traffic control products to make sure drivers, pedestrians, and workers are kept safe. To know which traffic control products to pick you should consider the following factors:
- Purpose and Location: Identify whether the products are needed for road construction, parking lots, events, or pedestrian areas. For example:
- Road construction zones: May require durable barricades, warning signs, and temporary traffic signals.
- Parking lots and private properties: Typically, speed bumps, signage, and delineators are used for smooth traffic flow.
- Public events and crowd control: Often use A-frame barricades and cones for temporary lane management.
- School zones and pedestrian areas: May benefit from radar speed signs and crosswalk markings.
- Temporary vs. Permanent: Use cones, tape, and portable barriers for short-term needs; install fixed signs, pavement markings, and speed bumps for long-term control.
- Visibility and Compliance: Double-check signs and barriers meet local regulations and are reflective or LED-powered for nighttime or low-light visibility.
- Weather Resistance: Choose materials that will withstand harsh weather and environments, such as wind-resistant weighted bases, heavy-duty plastic or metal signs, and fade-resistant pavement markings.
- Budget and Cost-Effectiveness: Weigh the benefits of renting vs. buying based on the duration or frequency of use and consider bulk purchasing or reusable products.
- Ease of Installation and Maintenance: Select products that are easy to set up, remove, and maintain for efficiency and long-term use.
Where to Buy Traffic Control Products
When looking for traffic control products, you have a few options. You can choose between local suppliers, online vendors, or specialized safety companies. Renting is ideal for short-term projects, while purchasing may be more cost-effective for long-term use.
Regardless of who you pick, it’s important to buy from a reliable provider that offers high-quality, compliant products. As a supplier of interstate traffic control products, we at Interwest Safety are a trusted industry leader, providing a wide range of traffic control solutions, from signs and barricades to advanced safety systems.
