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Traffic safety can fall into the following two basic categories: (1) general driving prac-tices and (2) signage and traffic patterns that need to be maintained when people are out working in streets.

DEFENSIVE DRIVING. General driving practices can be casually summed up as driving defensively. It is important to make sure vehicles are in working condition. All blinkers and safety lights, brakes, and wipers should work and windshield washer fluid should be full (especially in mountainous terrain). Seldom is getting to a job a few minutes earlier a life-or-death situation, so it is important to take time and be careful.

The term “road rage” has become increasingly popular in the past few years. There are many reasons for this. The electronic age has brought a faster-paced lifestyle, with almost constant access and pressure. There often is little time to relax. Traffic has got-ten worse. Deadlines are constantly looming. The road is ofgot-ten seen as place to make up time, and aggression is taken out anonymously. These conditions can lead to prob-lems on the road. It is important to remember that there is no need to be aggressive, especially in a company vehicle. It is important to just get the job done and be careful.

In the wastewater treatment industry, if a person loses his or her license, he or she often loses the job also.

DRINKING AND DRIVING. The use of illicit substances and driving do not mix. Many places of employment have drug testing before employment starts and can have random drug testing at any time. Anyone who has DOT licensing can be subject to random drug testing and, if there is an accident, the driver must undergo mandatory drug testing. Legal blood alcohol levels continue to drop and, in many states, the level is currently 0.08. It is important to remember that all drivers have different metabo-lisms and susceptibility to alcohol and take different medications. Many of these can cause unwanted side effects and lack of coordination. Drinking and driving remains one of the leading causes of death in the United States.

CELL PHONE USAGE. Cell phones have been a blessing for making communica-tion easy. For driving, they have become a problem. Many studies have linked cell phone use when driving to accidents (Helperin, http://www.edmunds.com/ownership/

safety/articles/43812/article.html [accessed January 2006]). Originally, it was thought that using the hands to dial resulted in worse driving; however, the driving actually worsens because the driver is distracted. The driver’s concentration is no longer on guiding the automobile down the road, but on what the driver is doing or saying.

This endangers others. If it becomes necessary to talk while driving, please try to pull over. Also, some areas have actually made it illegal to use a phone and drive at the same time.

SIGNAGE AND TRAFFIC PATTERNS. One of the more dangerous things that wastewater workers can do is to work outside the plant performing collection system maintenance and repairs. The best defense and protection for wastewater treatment workers would be totally cordoning off the work area or worksite behind impenetrable concrete barriers. Often, that is impossible. The next best thing that can be done is pro-tecting workers with a traffic control zone. The workers will need to set up a means of guiding traffic through the work zone so that they will not be harmed. This means proper placement of signs, cones, and possibly a flag person to guide the traffic. Before working in the roadway, remember to contact the local police or district to determine whether traffic control is necessary. In some areas, a traffic control plan must be sub-mitted before any work can be started.

Typically, when working in a district where there is only one worker, the roads generally are not that heavily trafficked, so there will not be a need for more than the truck, cones, and basic “Road Work Ahead” or “Detour” signs (remember, the truck can be a safety device and just by its bulk can be used behind cones as a mobile barrier).

Following are the recommended distances for simple signs:

• A “Road Work Ahead” sign is typically placed 46 m (150 ft) minimum in front of any other signage.

• A “Lane Closed” sign is typically placed 30 m (100 ft) minimum in front of the work zone.

• A “High Level Warning Device” is placed at the beginning of the work zone.

This can be a multiple flag type of device or a flashing sign. It is important to check local regulations to make that the proper type of device is being used.

• Cones are placed to direct traffic around the work zone.

There are some basic rules that need to be followed. All flag persons should wear orange vests or shirts. Recently, some areas began allowing a fluorescent yellow-green color also. Reflective belts, suspenders, or edges on the normal orange vest are neces-sary for night work. Proper use of signs that say “Slow” on one side and “Stop” on the

other are necessary. Flag persons should be positioned at least 30 m (100 ft) ahead of the work zone. The “Flagmen Ahead” sign should be approximately 152 m (500 ft) ahead of them. Flag persons are required where

(1) Workers or equipment will intermittently block traffic;

(2) One lane must be used for both directions of traffic (a flag person is required for both directions); or

(3) The safety of the public and/or workers requires it.

Local regulations should be checked for proper placement of signs. They may differ from area to area. Permits may be required at specific sites. Table 5.3 shows suggested distances between common warning devices.

The following are a few basic things to remember when working inside a cordoned-off area:

• Always use more than the minimum amount of warning signage.

• Anticipate unpredictable acts of drivers before setting up the traffic plan and then actualizing it. Cars and trucks are much larger than people, and, if poor driving is anticipated, it is much easier to protect workers from it, preventing accidents and injury.

• Keep all tools and materials behind the protected zones. If something were to fall into the flow of traffic, do not react and go after it without first looking and making sure that the area may be entered safely.

• The pedestrian, motorist, equipment, and work force need to be considered as traffic control plans are made.

• Finally, it is a good idea to review the safety plans with everyone on the work-site before work starts.

TABLE5.3 Suggested distances between common warning devices.

Speed (km/h [mph]) Distance (m [ft]) Traffic cones 0 to 48 km/h (0 to 30 mph) 3 to 6 m (10 to 20 ft)

48 to 64 km/h (30 to 40 mph) 7.6 to 11 m (25 to 35 ft) 72 to 88 km/h (45 to 55 mph) 12 to 15 m (40 to 50 ft) High level warning devices 0 to 40 km/h (0 to 25 mph) 45 m (150 ft) before worksite

40 to 56 km/h (25 to 35 mph) 76 m (250 ft) before worksite 56 to 72 km/h (35 to 45 mph) 152 mm (500 ft) before worksite 72 to 88 km/h (45 to 55 mph) 229 m (750 ft) before worksite