A national campaign is underway to end the confronting and abusive behaviour that drivers display towards traffic controllers.
With major construction at full pace across the nation, many roads are impacted with stop and go, lane closures, detours, and other restrictions and blockages.
Traffic controllers report that drivers refuse to stop, knock over signs and bollards, speed through work zones, drive on closed roads, level personal abuse and and even throw drinks, food and objects.
To addresses the issues, the National Road Safety Partnership Program, in conjunction with Monash University and industry partners, has launched the "Respect Traffic Controllers" campaign. See the video here.
NRSPP has prepared a kit of materials for organisations and groups wanting to directly address the issue.
Work zones can be hazardous with barriers and machinery close to traffic lanes, trenches and excavations underway, and loose gravel, pooled water and mud.
The traffic controller has the job of ensuring that this work can be done safely while traffic is redirected or stopped. They put the warning signs out, they reconfigure the lanes and direct the traffic.
New guidelines for traffic management have been introduced, which take into account the particular needs of bike riders and pedestrians, and better set-ups are being seen as more engineers and controllers are trained in the new methods.
People on bikes are generally empathetic towards traffic controllers, recognising their vulnerability and the attitudes of drivers.
But we have to comply, too. Stop always means stop in a work zone.