Lesson 1: Who may direct traffic
On public roads, drivers must obey police and trained traffic control people. A security guard does not get that power just by wearing a uniform. Rules are provincial, so they vary, but the idea is the same: only trained and authorized people direct traffic on public roads.
| Role (BC example) | Where | Training |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic control person (TCP) | Roads and work zones | WorkSafeBC-approved program with a knowledge test and practical assessment; designated by the employer; site orientation before the first shift |
| Traffic assistant | Parking or holding areas only | Workplace training |
| Emergency responder | Roads, during an emergency | Training for the role |
Most guards act like traffic assistants: guiding vehicles in a parking lot, a loading area, an event lot or a site gate. If you are asked to control traffic on a public road, ask your supervisor whether you have the training and authority to do it.
In Ontario, the driver's handbook tells drivers to watch for traffic-control people and follow their instructions. Disobeying a STOP or SLOW sign shown by a traffic-control person or firefighter is an offence.
Even on private property, a parking lot or site road can be dangerous. Your employer should tell you in writing where you may direct vehicles, what equipment to use and who to call for help.
Lesson 2: Be seen
Drivers cannot avoid what they do not see. Wear high-visibility clothing every time you work near moving vehicles, day or night.
- In BC, traffic control persons wear Class 3 high-visibility apparel meeting CSA Z96-15, in fluorescent yellow-green or orange-red with reflective stripes.
- They also wear high-visibility headgear with reflective tape.
- Keep your vest or jacket clean and in good condition; dirty, faded gear is harder to see.
- Do not cover your hi-vis with a dark coat or backpack.
At night
BC treats it as dark from half an hour after sunset until half an hour before sunrise. In the dark, traffic control persons carry a flashlight with a red signalling wand and spare batteries, and their position must be lit by street lights or temporary lighting that does not blind drivers.
Lesson 3: Where to stand
Your position can save your life. BC's rules for traffic control persons are a good model for any guard near traffic:
- Stand on the shoulder or curb, or in a lane closed off by barriers or cones, never in a lane open to traffic.
- Do not stand in an intersection that is open to traffic.
- Always keep a clear escape route, a place you can step or run to if a driver does not stop.
- Be easy to see from a distance, not hidden by parked vehicles, trees or a curve.
- Stay at your assigned spot until you are relieved.
BC does not use traffic control persons where the speed limit is over 70 km/h. A warning sign telling drivers that a traffic control person is ahead is placed in advance, normally no more than 150 m before the first one.
Weather, dust and fatigue
Rain, snow, fog, glare and dust all make you harder to see. BC requires dust that reduces visibility to be controlled, for example by spraying water. Keep all traffic equipment, such as paddles, cones, lights and vests, clean and in good working order. Standing in one place for hours is tiring, and tired people react slowly. Take your breaks and ask for relief if you cannot stay alert.
Lesson 4: Signals and teamwork
Signals must be precise and deliberate so every driver understands them. Slow, clear movements are better than quick waves.
- Make eye contact with a driver before you signal them to move.
- Use the stop or slow paddle or a lighted wand if your employer supplies one.
- Never direct drivers against a traffic sign or signal, such as waving them through a red light.
- When more than one person is directing traffic, use radios or another reliable way to talk, and choose one person to coordinate changes.
- Put your phone away. A moment of distraction near traffic can be fatal.
Traffic control is the last line of defence, not the first. BC requires employers to first try to keep traffic away from workers, using detours, barriers and cones, before relying on a person to control traffic.
Lesson 5: Parking lots and events
Parking lots look calm, but drivers are distracted, looking for spaces, reversing and watching their phones. Pedestrians often walk between parked cars.
- Plan the flow before vehicles arrive: entry, exit, lanes and pedestrian paths.
- Set up cones and signs to guide drivers so you do not have to stand in the lane.
- Keep fire lanes and emergency access routes clear at all times.
- Give pedestrians priority and separate them from vehicles where you can.
- Never stand directly behind a reversing vehicle or in a driver's blind spot.
- Record any collision, near miss or aggressive driver in your notes and report it.
Crowds leaving an event
When an event ends, many people and vehicles leave at once. Hold vehicles until large groups of pedestrians have crossed, then release vehicles in steady batches. Keep your signals simple and the same every time. Use a radio to tell other guards when you are stopping or releasing traffic, so no one is surprised.
If a driver ignores you or becomes aggressive, do not step in front of the vehicle or chase it. Note the plate number, description and direction, and report it.