SIGN LANGUAGE Communicating to busy and often distracted motorists before and within a work zone is crucial to keeping our communities moving safely. Signage is not only a required part of a standard work zone, it’s how we first connect to the traveling public and guide them safely through all types of changes and hazards along their route. To better understand how we use this special “sign language,” let’s take a deeper look into the types of signage used and where it will be encountered. I SEE A SIGN — WHERE’S THE WORK ZONE? There are federal guidelines that set the minimum standards for signage and the placement of it. All states must meet these federal requirements, but some create their own state standards with the intention to go beyond the federal standards or to address their own specific focus areas. As a result, sign placement and types vary from state to state. This variance is a potential challenge for both traffic control providers and the traveling public. However, there is a common rule of thumb that can be universally applied: speed + area density = sign spacing. Here’s the breakdown: LOW SPEED + URBAN AREA = LESS SPACING HIGH SPEED + RURAL AREA = MORE SPACING It makes sense when you think about it. If you’re traveling at a higher rate of speed, you would need more time to process the communication and understand what you’re about to encounter. If you’re traveling at a lower rate of speed, you have fewer distractions and would more likely be able to spot and comprehend any advanced warnings that are placed closer to an upcoming work zone. Knowing this common theme helps us to prepare for the unknowns that may lie ahead. This general approach to sign spacing is also what you should look for when evaluating the quality of a traffic control partner. F O U R T E E N