9.3 Traffic Direction, Control & Roadway Scene Safety

9.3 Traffic Direction, Control & Roadway Scene Safety

AZPOST Comprehensive Examination Focus: Peace officer recruits must demonstrate mastery of manual traffic direction, standard whistle commands, uniform hand signals, intersection positioning, personal protective equipment (ANSI Class 2/3), temporary traffic control devices, and highway incident management—including fend-off vehicle positioning, lighting management to counteract driver phototaxis ('moth effect'), and statutory signal outage procedures pursuant to Ariz. Admin. Code R13-4-116(E)(1)(d)(v).

Directing traffic on public roadways is among the most hazardous operational assignments an officer undertakes. Peace officers must step into live traffic streams, command driver compliance through unmistakable physical gestures, and engineer safe work zones around collisions, construction sites, power outages, and roadway hazards.

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1. Operational Foundations & Legal Authority of Traffic Direction

Manual traffic control replaces or supplements automated traffic control devices during power failures, major collisions, utility line repairs, hazardous material spills, severe weather events, and special community gatherings. Commands must be crisp, decisive, and authoritative.

Statutory Authority to Direct Traffic (A.R.S. § 28-622)

Under A.R.S. § 28-622, failure to comply with a police officer's lawful direction is a criminal offense:

• Statutory Mandate: A person shall not willfully fail or refuse to comply with any lawful order or direction of a police officer invested by law with authority to direct, control, or regulate traffic.
• Classification: Class 2 misdemeanor.
• Legal Supremacy: An officer's manual hand signals and directional commands supersede all official electronic signals, stop signs, and pavement markings. Even if an electronic signal displays a steady red light, a driver directed by a uniformed peace officer to proceed through the intersection must obey the officer's command.

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2. Standardized Whistle Commands & Acoustic Signaling

The police whistle captures driver and pedestrian attention before or simultaneously with hand signals. Recruits must memorize the three standardized whistle commands:

[ One Long Blast ] ------------> STOP
  Draws attention; halts the targeted vehicular or pedestrian movement stream.

[ Two Short, Crisp Blasts ] ---> GO / PROCEED
  Signals halted vehicles to accelerate smoothly through the intersection.

[ Three or More Rapid Blasts ] -> ATTENTION / DANGER / EMERGENCY STOP
  Demands immediate cessation of all vehicular and pedestrian movement.

[!IMPORTANT] Whistle Etiquette & Doctrine: Never blow the whistle continuously, casually, or in an unmodulated fashion. A whistle signal should always precede or accompany a hand command. Overuse numbs driver responsiveness, generates irritation, and leads motorists to ignore critical stop commands.

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3. Uniform Hand and Arm Signals

Hand signals must be exaggerated, deliberate, and held long enough for motorists to interpret them from a distance:

     [ STOP COMMAND ]                               [ GO / PROCEED COMMAND ]
  1. Point directly at driver                    1. Stand shoulders parallel to traffic flow
  2. Raise arm vertically                        2. Palm facing UP
  3. Open palm at eye level                      3. Sweep forearm in arc toward chin/shoulder
  4. Hold until vehicle STOPS                    4. Deliver TWO short crisp whistle blasts

1. Stop Command:
   • Select the target vehicle and establish direct eye contact with the driver.
   • Extend your arm pointing directly at the driver, then bend your elbow to bring your hand upward with an open palm facing the driver at eye level, fingers pointed straight up.
   • Hold this position until the driver sees the signal and brings the vehicle to a complete halt.
   • Repeat for opposing traffic if stopping both directions simultaneously.
   • Cardinal Rule: Never turn your back on approaching traffic until that traffic has come to a complete, visible stop.
2. Go / Proceed Command:
   • Stand with your shoulders parallel to the direction of traffic flow you wish to move.
   • Turn your head and establish eye contact with the lead driver.
   • Extend your arm toward the driver with your palm facing upward, then bend your elbow and sweep your forearm in a deliberate arc toward your shoulder/chin.
   • Give two short, crisp whistle blasts to accompany the arm sweep.
   • Continue until traffic flows smoothly, keeping your shoulders aligned with moving traffic.
3. Left-Turn Command:
   • Direct conflicting opposing through-traffic to stop first.
   • When the intersection is clear, point directly at the vehicle desiring to turn left, establish eye contact, and use an open-palm sweeping motion across your body in the direction of the turn.
4. Right-Turn Command:
   • Point directly at the turning vehicle to gain attention, then sweep your opposite arm in an arc toward the street the driver will enter.
5. Pedestrian Crossing Control:
   • Bring all conflicting vehicular traffic to a complete stop before gesturing pedestrians into the crosswalk. Hold your stop signal toward vehicles while verbally and physically guiding pedestrians across.

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4. Intersection Positioning & Officer Safety

Choosing the correct physical location within an intersection balances operational effectiveness with survival tactics:

Tactical Movement Rules for the Intersection

• Never Step Backward: Always move forward or pivot. Stepping backward blindly invites collisions with turning vehicles.
• Establish Eye Contact First: Never assume a motorist sees you simply because you are wearing a uniform or safety vest. Confirm eye contact before stepping into a lane or signaling a maneuver.
• Work in Coordinated Pairs: At complex multi-lane or dual-turn intersections, two officers should deploy. One officer acts as the lead director, while the second mirrors commands and controls the opposing or pedestrian traffic.
• Nighttime Traffic Wands: In low-light environments, attach a translucent orange or red traffic wand to a flashlight. Hold the wand at chest or waist level and draw glowing trajectories. Avoid shining raw white flashlight beams into motorists' eyes, which causes flash blindness.

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5. Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) & High-Visibility Standards

+-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
|              FEDERAL HIGHWAY ADMINISTRATION (FHWA) 23 CFR PART 634               |
| All emergency personnel exposed to traffic within the right-of-way of any public  |
| highway MUST wear ANSI/ISEA 107 Class 2 or Class 3 high-visibility safety apparel. |
+-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------+

ANSI/ISEA 107 Garment Classifications

• Class 2 Safety Apparel: Minimum requirement for personnel directing traffic on roadways where traffic speeds exceed 25 mph up to 50 mph. Features fluorescent background material (lime-yellow or orange) for daytime visibility and a minimum of 201 square inches of retroreflective striping for nighttime conspicuity.
• Class 3 Safety Apparel: Enhanced protection featuring retroreflective bands on the torso, sleeves, and pants. Required on high-speed freeways, interstate highways (speeds >50 mph), or during heavy inclement weather (fog, heavy rain, dust storms).
• ANSI/ISEA 207 Public Safety Vests: Specialized high-visibility vests designed for law enforcement with a 5-point breakaway system (velcro fasteners at the shoulders, sides, and front zipper). If an officer's vest is caught by a passing vehicle's side mirror or bumper, the vest tears away instantly rather than dragging the officer under the wheels. Vests also feature cutouts for access to duty firearms, tasers, and portable radios.
• Tactical Survival Priority: While high-visibility PPE is mandatory for traffic operations, officer survival takes precedence during an active tactical confrontation. If gunfire or an armed suspect emerges, officers may remove or cover bright vests to avoid presenting an illuminated target while taking cover.

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6. Temporary Traffic Control: Warning Tapers, Cones & Flares

When securing an incident scene or road closure, officers must construct a Temporary Traffic Control (TTC) zone following the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD Part 6):

Approaching Traffic ---> [ Advance Warning ] ---> [ Transition Taper ] ---> [ Buffer Space ] ---> [ Work Space ]
                             Signs / Flares         Cones / Flares             Cruiser Fend-Off     Crash / Medics

The Five Functional Zones of Temporary Traffic Control

1. Advance Warning Area: Informs approaching motorists of the hazard ahead through illuminated message boards, warning signs, or patrol cruisers with emergency lights.
2. Transition Area (Taper): Moves traffic out of its normal travel path into open lanes. The taper length is proportional to roadway speed:
   • On high-speed roadways (>=45 mph): Taper Length $L = W \times S$ (where $W$ is lane width in feet, and $S$ is posted speed in mph). For a 12-foot lane at 65 mph, $L = 12 \times 65 = 780$ feet.
   • On low-speed urban arterials (<=40 mph): Taper Length $L = \frac{W \times S^2}{60}$.
3. Buffer Space: An unoccupied longitudinal distance between the transition taper and the actual work space. If an errant driver breaches the taper cones or flares, the buffer space allows them stopping distance before striking emergency responders.
4. Work Space (Shadow Zone): The protected physical area where officers, firefighters, paramedics, and tow operators work.
5. Termination Area: Allows traffic to safely resume normal flow past the incident.

Traffic Cones & Flare (Fusee) Deployment

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7. Highway Incident Management: "Fend-Off" Vehicle Positioning & Lighting Control

Stationary highway scenes present extreme risks to officers. Applying sound engineering and psychological principles prevents secondary collisions.

  === Travel Lane (Blocked) ===
         Approaching Traffic  ---->
                                     [ Patrol Cruiser ]
                                    (15° - 45° Fend-Off Angle)
                                    (Wheels Turned AWAY from Scene)
                                              |
                                              v  Deflection Path
  -----------------------------
  === Work Space (Shadow Zone) ===
         [ Ambulance ]   [ Collided Cars ]   [ Responders ]

The "Fend-Off" (Blocking) Position

• Angle: Park the patrol cruiser at a 15 to 45-degree angle across the closed travel lane(s).
• Front Wheels Turned Away from Work Zone: Turn the front wheels sharply away from the incident scene (toward the shoulder or outside barrier). If an inattentive motorist collides with the cruiser at 65 mph, the cruiser will roll into the shoulder or spin away, rather than plowing forward into the paramedics and crash victims working in the shadow zone.
• Multiple Vehicle Stack: When multiple units respond, the secondary cruiser should be positioned 100 to 200 feet upstream in advance of the primary blocking cruiser to initiate the taper.

Lighting Management & The "Moth Effect" (Phototaxis)

• The "Moth Effect": Fatigued, distracted, or alcohol-impaired drivers exhibit involuntary visual attraction to intense flashing light sources (phototaxis). Impaired drivers tend to steer where they look, frequently driving directly into flashing police cruisers parked on the highway shoulder.
• Nighttime Glare Elimination:
  • Deactivate Headlights and Takedowns: Once the patrol vehicle is parked in a stationary blocking position at night, the officer must turn off headlights, takedowns, and forward-facing spotlights. Headlights blind oncoming motorists, masking the cones, flares, and officers walking in the roadway.
  • Reduce Flash Intensity: Utilize amber directional arrow sticks and lower-frequency rear lighting patterns once the scene is established. High-intensity 360-degree white/blue strobe patterns disorient approaching drivers in dark rural environments.

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8. Directing Traffic During Signal Outages & Hazardous Weather Protocols

Complete Traffic Signal Outages (A.R.S. § 28-645 & § 28-771)

During power grid failures, monsoons, or vehicle-versus-utility-pole collisions, traffic signals may become completely dark (dead heads):

• Statutory Default Rule: Under Arizona law, when an intersection signal loses all power and displays no illuminated lights or flashing indications, the intersection legally defaults to an All-Way Stop (Four-Way Stop) for all approaching traffic under A.R.S. § 28-645 and § 28-771.
• Driver Duty: Every approaching driver must bring their vehicle to a complete stop before entering the intersection and yield to vehicles on the right or vehicles that entered first.
• Police Direction Supremacy (A.R.S. § 28-622): The arrival of a peace officer manually directing traffic supersedes all default statutory right-of-way rules and electronic signals. All drivers must obey the lawful order or direction of a peace officer.

Flashing Signal Operations (A.R.S. § 28-647)

• Flashing Red Light: Treated legally as a Stop Sign. Complete stop required before entering.
• Flashing Yellow Light: Treated legally as a Caution Signal. Drivers may proceed through with caution without coming to a complete stop.

Arizona Hazardous Weather Protocols

• Monsoons & Flash Flooding (A.R.S. § 28-910 - Arizona's "Stupid Motorist Law"): A driver of a vehicle who drives past a barricaded road, street, or wash that is flooded is liable for the full expenses of any emergency rescue operations incurred by public agencies (up to statutory limits), in addition to receiving a traffic citation.
• Dust Storms (Haboobs): When a dust storm drops visibility to near-zero, officers advising the public or managing scenes apply the "Pull Aside, Stay Alive" protocol: pull entirely off the paved roadway, place the vehicle in park, turn off all vehicle lights (including emergency flashers), and take the foot off the brake pedal so following motorists do not follow tail lights into the stopped vehicle.

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9. High-Yield Exam Traps & Operational Application Scenario

High-Yield Exam Traps for Section 9.3

1. Whistle Command Distinctions: One long blast = Stop; two short blasts = Go; three or more rapid blasts = Attention / Danger / Emergency Stop. Do not reverse one long and two short!
2. Fend-Off Wheel Orientation: Front wheels must be turned away from the incident work zone (toward the shoulder), never straight or toward the responders.
3. Nighttime Headlight Rule: Always turn off headlights when parked in stationary highway blocking positions to avoid blinding oncoming traffic and obscuring on-scene personnel.
4. Dead Signal Default: A completely unlit traffic signal defaults to an all-way stop, not an uncontrolled free-for-all or main-artery right-of-way.
5. Stupid Motorist Law: A.R.S. § 28-910 imposes financial liability for rescue costs on drivers who bypass official barricades into flooded washes.

Operational Application Scenario

Scenario: At 2300 hours on a Saturday, Troopers Vance and Miller respond to a two-vehicle collision on Interstate 10 blocking the two right travel lanes of a three-lane freeway. The speed limit is 65 mph. An injured driver is pinned inside one vehicle awaiting extrication.

• Scene Staging: Trooper Vance positions Cruiser 1 in a fend-off position across lanes 2 and 3, angled at 30 degrees, 50 feet upstream from the wreckage. Trooper Vance turns the front wheels sharply to the right toward the concrete shoulder barrier and immediately deactivates the cruiser's headlights and forward takedowns to eliminate glare, activating rear directional amber warning bars.
• Taper Construction: Donning an ANSI Class 3 high-visibility safety jacket, Trooper Miller sets up an advance warning flare taper extending 250 feet upstream, placing flares every 25 feet diagonally across the two closed lanes to guide oncoming traffic smoothly into the left open lane.
• Manual Traffic Direction: Trooper Vance stations himself on the shoulder at the mouth of the taper. Using an illuminated orange traffic wand, Trooper Vance signals approaching motorists to merge left, utilizing two short whistle blasts to prompt hesitating vehicles and one long blast if a driver approaches the work zone too rapidly.