Work Zone Safety Information Clearinghouse

Library of Resources to Improve Roadway Work Zone Safety for All Roadway Users

Practice

Use of flashing stop/slow paddle

South Dakota DOT decided to experiment with flashing stop/slow paddles on two state-maintenance projects and several county maintenance projects in 1995. Maintenance crews were impressed with the device. The highway agency found that the flashing stop/slow paddles more effectively drew driver attention to work zones, especially on cloudy days.

Assessment:

Flaggers weren’t the only people impressed with the flashing stop/slow paddle-the device drew praise from motorists, the people to whom the message of the paddle is directed. “Drivers actually pulled over to share positive comments about the greater visib

State/Agency: South Carolina
Where Documented: Case study titled "Lighted Paddle Improves Flagger Visibility"
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