AWP Safety’s Automated Flaggers Help Keep Road Workers Out of Harm’s Way

AWP Safety has introduced a new Automated Flagger Assistance Device to the market, providing a safer method for contractors to handle traffic in active work zones. The auto flaggers are controlled by AWP workers from the roadside to enhance communication with crews and have been authorized for use by transportation departments in all 50 states, as per AWP.

These auto flaggers are created to completely replace human flaggers to ensure that workers are kept at a safer distance from moving vehicles. AWP employees can manage multiple units simultaneously through a radio access network, allowing for coverage of more work sites with fewer personnel.

Setting up the auto flaggers only takes a few minutes, and typically, one AWP worker can transport, set up, and operate several units, the company states. The gate arm of the AFAD locks into place when not raised, serving as a fail-safe to prevent head-on collisions. They are powered by either 33A batteries or solar energy.

Furthermore, the auto flaggers are compatible with Google Maps and Waze technology, communicating with these navigation apps to identify active work zones on drivers’ routes, provide alerts, and recommend alternative routes to promote safer driving practices.

Research conducted by the Missouri DOT revealed that 80% of drivers prefer AFADs over human flaggers and that their deployment led to reduced average approach speeds, increased stopping distances, and a more defined first braking location.

In Quebec, Canada, where the use of AFADs was made mandatory in 2020 for job sites with speed limits exceeding 45 mph, no work-related injuries or fatalities were reported between 2020 and 2023.