Florida DOT Adds RC Flagman to Qualified Products List
North America Traffic’s Automated Flagging Assistive Device Provides Added Safety on Construction Sites
Port Colborne, ON
The Florida Department of Transportation added the automated flagging assistive device (AFAD), RC Flagman, to its Qualified Products List. The addition is a result of positive comments received from the workers and motorists during a five month milling and resurfacing project.
Ocala, Florida-based, Anderson Columbia Company performed a five month milling and resurfacing project on SR 40 in Marion County. The scope of the project required that the twoway traffic flow on the high-speed highway be maintained during construction. The work was performed at night, which increased the danger of the working conditions on this construction project.
Anderson Columbia employed extra caution with the safety of its workers by renting two RC Flagmen for traffic control. To manage traffic, flaggers at each end of the work zone operated an RC Flagman from a safe location off the edge of the roadway and communicated with each other using walkie-talkies.
The RC Flagman has a 12-inch red stop light that can be seen from up to a half mile away to warn motorists and has a ten-foot gate-arm, similar to those found in a parking lot or at a toll booth for positive vehicle control. The device runs on a bank of batteries and uses a solar panel for recharging.
“Our flaggers liked them, because they didn’t have to stand in the middle of the road to stop the cars,” said Jake Beauchamp, project manager for Anderson Columbia.
RC Flagman is the world’s first AFAD. It is manufactured by North American Traffic, an Ontario-based company that produces portable traffic signals and AFADs for a variety of uses.
About North America Traffic
North America Traffic was launched as R.C. Flagman in 1993 when Peter Vieveen built the world’s first Remote Controlled Flagman™ out of his garage. At the time, Mr. Vieveen was a senior estimator in the construction industry with over 25 years of construction experience. He understood the importance of reducing costs while increasing safety. North America Traffic now operates a full production facility, and its products have been used on over 2,500 projects across North America. Today, it is the world leader in traffic control systems, with 8 different models of portable traffic signals and flagging systems to meet all traffic control needs. For more information, visit www.NorthAmericaTraffic.com.