Flagger and Temporary Speed Limit in a Resurfacing Zone
You are northbound on a four-lane Indiana highway at 2:20 p.m. on a weekday. A resurfacing project has closed the northbound left lane. Orange signs announce a work zone and a temporary speed limit of 35 mph, while the permanent limit is 55. A flagger in a high-visibility vest holds a STOP paddle facing you. Beyond the flagger, a pilot car waits to lead traffic through the one-lane two-way section. A concrete barrier narrows the lane, and a business driveway on the right remains open. You are running late for an appointment. The flagger lowers the paddle slightly as you approach but does not turn it parallel to the road. Another driver behind you honks and edges toward the shoulder, as if to go around. You must decide where to stop, whether the temporary limit still applies while no workers are visible, and whether to follow the pilot car closely.
1. What does the flagger's STOP paddle require, and where should you stop relative to the flagger and the business driveway?
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The STOP paddle means stop and wait; it is not a courtesy signal or a warning to slow slightly. The flagger lowering the paddle without turning it parallel does not release you. Stop before the flagger at a point where you can see the flagger's signals and do not block the business driveway, the concrete barrier opening, or the lane needed by the pilot car. Leave enough space that a vehicle can enter or leave the driveway safely. Do not creep forward just because the paddle angle changed; wait for a clear go signal or for the pilot car to move. The driver behind who edges toward the shoulder is creating a hazard and should not be followed or waved ahead.
2. Does the 35 mph temporary limit apply when no workers are visible at that moment?
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Yes. A posted temporary speed limit in a work zone is a regulatory limit, not a suggestion that applies only when a worker is in sight. Workers may be behind barriers, out of view, or moving equipment; the narrowed lane, concrete barrier, and rough pavement are still hazards. The 35 mph limit also protects the flagger and the pilot-car operation. Even if the sign were missing or turned, the basic speed rule would require a speed reasonable for the conditions. A driver running late should build extra time rather than treat the absence of visible workers as permission to resume 55 mph. The correct approach is to obey the posted temporary limit until a sign ends it or normal traffic flow is restored.
3. How closely should you follow the pilot car, and what should you do about the driver behind you?
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Follow the pilot car at a safe distance, not bumper-to-bumper. Leave enough room to stop if the pilot car brakes for equipment, a worker, or a rough patch, and stay in the lane it uses rather than trying to pass or swing around the barrier. The driver behind may pressure you, but the work zone is the wrong place to solve that by speeding or tailgating the pilot car. If the rear driver tries to pass on the shoulder, do not block or race; maintain your lane and speed and let the flagger or police handle the violation. Your responsibilities are to obey the flagger, keep the pilot car in view, and avoid creating a second conflict inside a one-lane work zone.