2.3 Warning Signs, Work Zones & Railroad Warning Devices
Key Takeaways
- Warning signs are yellow diamonds with a black symbol or word message and alert motorists to conditions such as curves, deer crossings, railroad crossings, and school crossings.
- Road work signs are orange diamonds warning of lane closings, lane shifts, flaggers, uneven pavement, and detours; in New Jersey all traffic fines are doubled in work zones (N.J.S.A. 39:4-203.5).
- Flaggers have the same authority as a regulatory sign, and a motorist who disobeys a flagger's direction may be cited.
- Work zones are marked by an advance warning sign or flashing lights up to one-half mile before the work area and end at an End Road Work sign or the last temporary traffic control device.
- Pavement markings, signs, and crossbucks are passive railroad warning devices, while flashing red lights, ringing bells, and lowered gates are active warning devices requiring a stop at least 15 feet from the tracks.
2.3 Warning Signs, Work Zones & Railroad Warning Devices
Quick Answer: Yellow diamonds warn of permanent road conditions; orange diamonds warn of temporary construction. All traffic fines are doubled in New Jersey work zones, and a flagger has the same authority as a regulatory sign. At railroad crossings, signs, pavement markings, and the crossbuck are passive devices; flashing red lights, ringing bells, and lowered gates are active devices that require a stop at least 15 feet from the tracks.
Warning Signs
Warning signs exist for road conditions that need caution and for specific hazards that may be encountered during certain road operations. They are yellow, diamond-shaped, with a black symbol or word message, and they alert motorists to conditions such as:
- Curves and winding roads, sharp turns, and hills
- Deer crossings and cattle crossings
- Railroad crossings
- School crossings
- Road narrows, lane reduction ahead, divided highway, merge
- Slippery when wet, two-way traffic, side road, cross road
- Signal ahead, yield ahead, stop sign ahead
The value of a warning sign is the time it buys. A "Curve Ahead" sign paired with an advisory speed plate is telling you to complete your braking before you reach the curve, because braking hard mid-curve is what breaks traction.
Special warning signs are a small but heavily tested category. A fluorescent, reflective orange triangle marks a slow-moving vehicle such as farm or construction equipment operating on a public highway. Those operators must obey all traffic rules and must display the triangle on the rear of the vehicle to warn approaching motorists. Seeing that triangle means the vehicle ahead may be travelling at 15 or 20 mph on a 50 mph road — close the gap far more slowly than instinct suggests.
Road Work Signs and Work Zones (N.J.S.A. 39:4-203.5)
Road work signs alert motorists to a variety of temporary roadway conditions. Two things to look for:
- Orange, diamond-shaped signs warning of lane closings, lane shifts, flaggers, uneven pavement, and detours. Road work may temporarily close or divert lanes, changing traffic patterns without warning.
- Reduced speed limit signs posted alongside orange work zone signs.
In New Jersey, all traffic fines are doubled in work zones. Doubled offenses include reckless driving, careless driving, speeding, improper passing, tailgating, improper turns, failure to observe traffic lanes, failure to observe a traffic signal or sign, and failure to obey an officer's directions.
Work zones are announced by an advance warning sign or flashing lights on a vehicle up to one-half mile before the work area, and they end at an End Road Work sign or at the last temporary traffic control device. You may meet a detour onto another roadway or a diversion onto a temporary roadway such as a median crossover or lane shift.
Flagger authority. Flaggers may stop and release traffic through a work zone. A flagger has the same authority as a regulatory sign, so a motorist who disobeys a flagger's directions may be cited.
How to Drive a Work Zone
- Stay alert — give the roadway your full attention.
- Pay close attention — signs and flaggers save lives.
- Turn on headlights so workers and other motorists can see the vehicle.
- Do not tailgate — unexpected stops and slowdowns are the norm.
- Do not speed — note the posted work zone limit.
- Minimize distractions — this is not the place to change radio stations or hold a hands-free call.
- Expect the unexpected and be patient.
Nationally there are nearly 800 fatal and over 37,000 serious injury crashes in work zones every year, which is why New Jersey attaches doubled fines to a stretch of road that may be only a few hundred feet long.
Railroad Warning Devices: Passive vs. Active
The New Jersey Department of Transportation and the railroads mark every public highway rail-grade crossing with one or more warning devices. The exam expects you to sort them into two groups:
| Passive devices (always present) | Active devices (operate when a train approaches) |
|---|---|
| Advance-warning signs (the round yellow sign) | Flashing red lights |
| Pavement markings in front of the crossing | Ringing bells |
| The crossbuck at the tracks | Descending or lowered gates |
| Flag signals |
A motorist must stop at least 15 feet from a railroad crossing when there are flashing red lights, ringing bells, descending or lowered gates, or flag signals. Never cross until the gates have been raised, the bells have stopped ringing, and the red lights have stopped flashing (N.J.S.A. 39:4-127.1).
The Physics That Should End the Argument
- Never race a train. Motorists routinely underestimate a train's speed and distance.
- Most trains travelling at 60 mph or more need more than a mile to stop.
- Trains are three or more feet wider than the tracks on each side — standing near the rails is not standing clear.
- Do not pass another vehicle within 100 feet of a railroad crossing.
Special Circumstances at Crossings
Some vehicles — school buses, other buses, and vehicles carrying hazardous materials — must always stop at railroad crossings, even when no train is coming. When you are following one of these vehicles, be prepared to stop even though the signals show nothing (N.J.S.A. 39:4-128).
Never stop your vehicle on railroad tracks. Before crossing, make sure there is room on the far side to get completely across. If warning devices activate while you are already on the tracks, keep going and clear the crossing immediately.
Key Exam Traps & Common Misconceptions
- Trap 1: Doubled fines are not limited to speeding. In a work zone, tailgating, improper passing, careless driving, and disobeying a signal are all doubled too.
- Trap 2: A flagger outranks the sign you just passed. Flagger directions carry regulatory force.
- Trap 3: 15 feet, not 25. Fifteen feet is the railroad crossing stop distance; 25 feet belongs to the school bus rule.
- Trap 4: Passive vs. active. Crossbucks, pavement markings, and advance signs are passive; lights, bells, and gates are active.
In a New Jersey highway work zone, which statement about traffic fines is correct?
How much authority does a flagger directing traffic through a work zone have?
Which set of railroad crossing devices is classified as ACTIVE warning devices?
A fluorescent, reflective orange triangle displayed on the back of a vehicle indicates what?