Construction and Work Zone Signs: Orange Signs, Flaggers, and Temporary Traffic Control
Work zones: orange means changed rules
Construction and maintenance signs are orange, usually black-on-orange diamonds or rectangles. They warn of workers, lane closures, detours, fresh pavement, and temporary traffic control. Orange speed-limit signs are regulatory: the reduced limit applies as posted, whether or not you see workers, unless the sign says otherwise. Where Oklahoma posts doubled penalties for work-zone violations, the fine can increase when workers are present.
Flaggers have the same authority as a police officer directing traffic. A flagger holding a STOP paddle means stop; a SLOW paddle means proceed slowly and be ready to stop. Obey the flagger even if the permanent signal is green. Channelizing devices-cones, drums, barricades-mark the temporary path. A "ROAD WORK AHEAD" sign may be followed by a lane-shift arrow, a "ONE LANE ROAD" sign, or a pilot car.
Worked example: You approach a work zone with a flagger showing SLOW. The lane ahead is clear, but a loader is backing up. You proceed at a crawl, not at the normal limit, and stop when the loader blocks your path. The flagger's SLOW does not mean "maintain speed."
Traps: speeding up after the last cone; ignoring an orange speed sign because no workers are visible; passing a flagger's stop paddle; and following a pilot car too closely. Also watch for temporary lane markings that override faded permanent lines-follow the orange devices and the pilot car.