• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
Logo

Work Zone Safety Information Clearinghouse

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

  • About
  • Join Listserv
  • Contact
  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn
  • Work Zone Data
    • At a Glance
    • National & State Traffic Data
    • Work Zone Traffic Crash Trends and Statistics
    • Worker Fatalities and Injuries at Road Construction Sites
  • Topics of Interest
    • Commercial Motor Vehicle Safety
    • Smart Work Zones
    • Transportation Management Plans
    • Accommodating Pedestrians
    • Worker Safety and Welfare
    • Project Coordination in Work Zones
  • Training
    • Flagger
    • Online Courses
    • Toolboxes
    • FHWA Safety Grant Products
    • Certification and
      Accreditation
  • Work Zone Devices
  • Laws, Standards & Policies
    • COVID-19 Guidance
  • Public Awareness
  • Events
  • About
  • Listserv
  • Contact
  • Search
Publication

Evaluation of the Paddle Pal, a Device for Increasing the Visibility of Flagger Paddles

Author/Presenter: Horowitz, Alan J.; Notbohm, Thomas
Abstract:

The Paddle Pal is a product of Safe-T-Proof. The product consists of a black plastic case and four arrays of three flashing LED’s, two red arrays on one side and two amber arrays on the other side. The Paddle Pal is intended as a way of increasing the visibility of a flagger paddle. The weather conditions were among the severest possible for testing the paddles. Without any direct light and the fog, the standard paddle and the flaggers were very difficult to see. It is likely that an even denser fog would necessitate a suspension of flagger operations at an actual work zone, as the use of any paddle (illuminated or otherwise) would be unduly hazardous. It is recommended that flaggers should use lighted paddles if low-visibility, daytime conditions are anticipated. The Paddle Pal is recommended over a standard paddle. The MUTCD should be modified to allow paddles lighted with LEDs, as these paddles perform better than standard paddles and at least one white-light paddle in low visibility, daytime conditions.

Publisher: Iowa State University
Publication Date: 2003
Full Text URL: Link to URL
Publication Types: Books, Reports, Papers, and Research Articles
Topics: Evaluation and Assessment; Stop/Slow Paddles; Visibility

Copyright © 2023 American Road & Transportation Builders Association (ARTBA). The National Work Zone Safety Information Clearinghouse is a project of the ARTBA Transportation Development Foundation. It is operated in cooperation with the U.S. Federal Highway Administration and Texas A&M Transportation Institute. | Copyright Statement · Privacy Policy · Disclaimer
American Road and Transportation Builders Association Transportation Development Foundation, American Road and Transportation Builders Association U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Highway Administration Texas A&M Transportation Institute