Federal Highway Administration
400 Seventh Street, SW
Washington, DC 20590

INFORMATION: Remote Control Flagman

Shelley J. Row, P.E.
Director, Office of Transportation
HOTO-1

Operations

Mr. Leonard E. Brown
Division Administrator (HDA-OH)
Columbus, Ohio

Thank you for the November 1999 Remote Control (RC) Flagman Priority Technology Evaluation Report requesting modification to the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD). We have reviewed the evaluation report and offer the following comments:

• The RC Flagman device appears to be a portable traffic control signal, but is does not meet current MUTCD standards for portable traffic control signal. Please see Section 4D.20 Temporary Traffic Control Signals of the MUTCD, second sentence under the first standard states "a portable traffic control signal shall be defined as a temporary traffic signal that is designed so that it can be easily transported and reused at different locations." Also, in Section 4D.20 Temporary Traffic Control Signals of the MUTCD, second sentence under the second standard states, "a temporary traffic control signal shall meet the physical display and operational requirements of a conventional traffic control signal."
• As you know, maintaining the safety of the traveling public and workers in highway work zones is a very high priority for the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA). We will take the RC Flagman device into consideration as we prepare for future changes to the MUTCD. Therefore, we will forward a copy of the RC Priority Technology Evaluation Report CD to the National Committee on Uniform Traffic Devices (NCUTCD) for review and comment. The NCUTCD is a national organization of individuals from the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials, the National Association of County Engineers, the American Public Works Association, the Institute of Transportation Engineers, and other organizations that have extensive experience in the installation and maintenance of traffic control devices. Although the FHWA is responsible for adopting the changes contained in the MUTCD, the NCUTCD reviews traffic control devices and makes recommendations to assist FHWA on MUTCD issues.
• In the interim, until an automated flagger device is approved, there is always the feasibility of using portable temporary traffic control signals in lieu of flaggers.
• For further consideration, we need to know about any patents on this device.
• The experiment approval for the RC Flagman has expired; therefore, this experimentation is terminated. The RC Flagman shall not be used on any other projects or locations.

We are always looking for new traffic control devices and concepts to improve roadway mobility and safety, especially in work zones. We appreciate the extensive effort that was put into this multi-year experimentation by the Ohio Department of Transportation, Office of Highway Management.

For reference purposes this device has been numbered and titled "6-103(Ex) R.C. Flagger."

Thank you for sending the CD and if we can be of further assistance, please contact Mr. Charlie Sears at 202-366-1555.