Traffic flaggers are an important part of the road construction process. The primary goals of a flagger are to give protection to construction workers and motorists. Their secondary goal is to keep traffic moving as smoothly as possible through the work zone.

    A flagger must be aware of moving traffic at all times. Flaggers do their best to keep the motoring public happy, while focusing on safety. Each year, motorists injure many construction workers.

    Recently, RSA 265:3-b Obedience to Flagpersons was passed in the New Hampshire House to help keep highway workers safe. This bill makes drivers obey flaggers. The new law states:

265:3-b Obedience to Flagpersons.

I. The driver of any vehicle shall obey the instructions of any flagperson in the act of directing, controlling, or regulating traffic within any construction, maintenance, or utility work area indicated by official traffic control devices. If the flagperson is displaying a signal to stop, the driver of a vehicle upon a way shall stop the vehicle at least 25 feet before reaching such flagperson. The driver shall not proceed until the flagperson indicates that traffic may proceed and until the driver may do so safely.

II. Any person who violates the provisions of this section shall be guilty of a violation and shall be fined not more than $100 for the first offense and not more than $250 for any subsequent offense committed during any calendar year.

Effective Date. June 8, 2001

To enforce this RSA, flagpersons must follow proper procedures. These procedures are described in the UNH T² video DC-235.

http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/regions/eastern/faw.htm

http://gencourt.state.nh.us/legislation/2001/hb0369.html

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