Fatigue is a big issue, as tired TCTs may forget to watch their traffic, or may inadvertently turn their "Stop bats" to the "Slow" position.
This may involve (in Australia) "Roadworks Ahead", temporary speed restrictions, "Worker Symbolic" (a stylized workman with a pile of rubble, black silhouette on a retroflective orange background), "Reduce Speed", "Lane Status" boards (indicating that some lanes on a multilane roadway will be closed), "Prepare to Stop" and advisory signs telling what is happening (e.g. Water Over Road, Trucks Entering, and Power Line Works Ahead).
Then it is necessary to use traffic controllers holding "Stop/Slow" Paddles or Bats to enact shuttle flow operations, where each stream is allowed past the work area in turn.
This cannot be done "on the fly", as high-speed (100-plus km/h), high-volume (500–1,000+ vehicles per hour) traffic is involved, generating a huge risk to workers.
In this case advisory signs will be erected weeks or even months in advance, and new lanes defined by bollards anchored firmly to the road-base will be installed, usually at night when traffic is expected to be minimal.
Clothing is considered part of PPE—personal protective equipment—which includes steel-capped boots, sunscreen, broad-brim hats, gloves and sunglasses.
One example of such a complex task is the transport of very wide loads taking all available roadspace, over several kilometers, usually on an arterial road or highway.
In these cases, the affected roads can be closed or contraflowed for the entire day, creating enormous disruption to motorists.
However, older people are often valued by employers for their life experience, and find that the relatively light manual labour compensates for the discomforts and rigours of the job.
Currently, the only acceptable course in the province is a two-day session which includes theory and practical components.
Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) Superintendent Derek Cooke of Langley believes that the RCMP should not perform the function of road traffic control to cater to events in support of for-profit corporations unless the municipal government has coordinated or is in support of the event.
Traffic Control Person (TCP) Certification Training has an expiry date of 3 years, upon which the course must be completed again for renewal.
A road may have a high-visibility jacket wearing traffic controller, a Crossing Guard (colloquially a "lollipop man" or "lollipop woman") who aids children in crossing on their journey to school or a Stop / Go Marshall, (Traffic Guard) at temporary road works.
The code of practice for Street and Road works is issued by the Scottish ministers under section 124 of the NRSWA.
Despite its name, the association represents not only highways but air, rail, water, and public transportation as well Although the Federal Highway Administration specifies standards and guidelines through the MUTCD which apply to the usage of traffic control equipment, individual state and local agencies often provide additions or slight variations to these standards.
Traffic volumes, types of vehicles, driving styles, population density, speed limits, and many other factors vary dramatically from one region to the next.
As a result, highway traffic control measures (including type of equipment and implementation), are not strictly consistent.
The TCS is responsible for placing the flaggers correctly, ensuring that they receive the proper breaks and supervision, and placing the advance warning signs (such as Road Work Ahead, One Lane Road Ahead, and Uneven Lanes).