Pennsylvania Shines New Light on Flagging

Flashing stop/slow paddles, available from several manufacturers and approved in the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD), feature a high-powered flashing light that flaggers can turn on to get drivers’ attention when they fail to heed instructions to stop or slow down. In the spring of 1995, the Pennsylvania DOT purchased 66 flashing stop/slow paddles from 3 manufacturers and distributed 2 of each model to a work crew in each district. Pennsylvania DOT work crews used the flashing stop/slow paddles during normal maintenance operations at more than 300 work sites on 2-lane, 2-way highways with varying traffic loads and speeds ranging from 57 km/h (35 mi/h) to 89 km/h (55 mi/h). Pennsylvania DOT work crews gave high marks to the flashing stop/slow paddle.