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Difficulty: MediumWork Zone Safety and Construction Hazards

While traveling along a two-lane rural road, a motorist approaches a single-lane maintenance area. A human traffic flagger at the entry point holds up a STOP paddle, while a temporary portable traffic signal mounted next to the flagger displays a green light. Which traffic control direction is the driver legally required to obey in this situation?

  1. The manual STOP paddle held by the human flaggerAnswer
  2. B
    The green illumination on the temporary traffic signal
  3. C
    Neither instruction, treating the conflict as an uncontrolled intersection where right-of-way alternates
  4. D
    The standard posted highway speed limit until active construction equipment is visible

Answer

The driver must obey the manual STOP paddle held by the human flagger, coming to a complete stop despite the green light displayed by the portable traffic signal.
In work zones and construction areas, manual instructions given by authorized traffic flaggers or law enforcement officers take legal precedence over automated traffic signals, electronic arrow boards, and posted regulatory signs. The driver must follow the flagger's explicit STOP instruction.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the conflict between traffic control inputs in the scenario.
The human flagger signals STOP, while the portable signal shows a green light.
Recognizing conflicting signals is necessary to apply hierarchy of control rules.
2
Apply the legal order of precedence for traffic control devices and personnel in work zones.
Manual directions from authorized construction flaggers and traffic officers supersede all automated signals and posted signs.
Flaggers possess real-time situational awareness of active hazards beyond the automated system's view.

Key Concept

Flagger and Officer Signal Precedence
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Topics

Work Zone Safety and Construction Hazards

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