Flagger Awareness Course (MUTCD) 2026

1. Pregunta 1 de 25

   What is the MUTCD?

   • AA private safety code that only applies to toll roads and bridges
   • BA federal license that every flagger must carry while working on roads
   • CA state law that sets the speed limit in work zones
   • DThe national standard for traffic control devices on public roads
   Ver respuesta

   Respuesta: D. The national standard for traffic control devices on public roads

   Federal rules (23 CFR 655) make the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices the national standard for traffic control devices on streets, highways and bicycle trails open to public travel.

2. Pregunta 2 de 25

   Which federal agency publishes the MUTCD?

   • AFederal Highway Administration (FHWA)
   • BOccupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)
   • CFederal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA)
   • DNational Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
   Ver respuesta

   Respuesta: A. Federal Highway Administration (FHWA)

   The MUTCD is published by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), part of the US Department of Transportation.

3. Pregunta 3 de 25

   How long do states have to adopt a new edition of the national MUTCD?

   • AThere is no deadline at all
   • BSix months from the date it is printed
   • CFive years from the effective date
   • DTwo years from the effective date
   Ver respuesta

   Respuesta: D. Two years from the effective date

   Under 23 CFR 655.603, states must adopt a new national MUTCD edition, or a state manual that meets it, within two years of the effective date.

4. Pregunta 4 de 25

   What does OSHA rule 29 CFR 1926.201(a) say about flaggers on construction sites?

   • AFlagging is only allowed on roads with a speed limit under 30 mph
   • BFlaggers must hold a federal OSHA flagger card
   • CFlaggers may use any signals the site supervisor chooses
   • DFlagging signals and garments must follow MUTCD Part 6
   Ver respuesta

   Respuesta: D. Flagging signals and garments must follow MUTCD Part 6

   OSHA 1926.201(a) requires that signaling by flaggers, the use of flaggers and their warning garments conform to Part 6 of the MUTCD.

5. Pregunta 5 de 25

   In Washington, what is the longest a flagger card can be valid?

   • A1 year from the date it was issued
   • B5 years from the date it was issued
   • CFor life, once the class is passed
   • D3 years from the date it was issued
   Ver respuesta

   Respuesta: D. 3 years from the date it was issued

   WAC 296-155-305 requires each flagger to carry a valid flagger card whose expiration date is no more than 3 years from issue.

6. Pregunta 6 de 25

   Under Cal/OSHA Title 8, section 1599, when must a flagger in California be trained?

   • AOnly after a near miss or crash
   • BWithin 90 days of starting the job
   • COnly if they work at night
   • DBefore being assigned as a flagger
   Ver respuesta

   Respuesta: D. Before being assigned as a flagger

   California's section 1599 says flaggers must be trained in the fundamentals of flagging moving traffic before they are assigned as flaggers.

7. Pregunta 7 de 25

   What do you need to flag on Oregon state highways, according to ODOT?

   • AAn Oregon certified flagger card or a reciprocal card
   • BA commercial driver's license with a clean record
   • CA letter of approval from the local police department
   • DOnly a high-visibility vest and a STOP/SLOW paddle
   Ver respuesta

   Respuesta: A. An Oregon certified flagger card or a reciprocal card

   ODOT says flaggers on state highways need training and an Oregon certified flagger card, or a reciprocal card from Montana, Washington or Idaho.

8. Pregunta 8 de 25

   Your supervisor asks you to flag traffic on a public road, but you have never had the flagger training your state requires. What should you do?

   • ATell your supervisor before you start
   • BStart flagging and take the training later
   • CAsk a driver to help you hold the paddle
   • DFlag using hand signals only until trained
   Ver respuesta

   Respuesta: A. Tell your supervisor before you start

   States such as Washington and California require flagger training or a card before a person flags. Raise it with your supervisor before you start.

9. Pregunta 9 de 25

   In which part of a work zone are drivers first told about what lies ahead?

   • AThe buffer space in the activity area
   • BThe activity area
   • CThe termination area
   • DThe advance warning area
   Ver respuesta

   Respuesta: D. The advance warning area

   The MUTCD describes the advance warning area as the part of the road where drivers are informed about the upcoming transition and activity areas.

10. Pregunta 10 de 25

    In which part of a work zone does the actual work take place?

    • AActivity area
    • BTransition area
    • CAdvance warning area
    • DTermination area
    Ver respuesta

    Respuesta: A. Activity area

    The activity area is where the work happens. It includes the work space, the traffic space and the buffer space.

11. Pregunta 11 de 25

    In which part of a work zone are drivers moved out of their normal path, often with a taper?

    • ATransition area
    • BAdvance warning area
    • CTermination area
    • DActivity area
    Ver respuesta

    Respuesta: A. Transition area

    The transition area is where road users are redirected out of their normal path. Tapers are commonly used there.

12. Pregunta 12 de 25

    Which high-visibility apparel does the MUTCD call for in a work zone?

    • AANSI/ISEA 107 Performance Class 2 or 3 apparel
    • BANSI/ISEA 107 Performance Class 1 apparel
    • CA white reflective jacket with no class rating
    • DAny bright shirt with company colors
    Ver respuesta

    Respuesta: A. ANSI/ISEA 107 Performance Class 2 or 3 apparel

    Section 6C.05 requires workers in the right-of-way, including flaggers, to wear ANSI/ISEA 107 Performance Class 2 or 3 apparel.

13. Pregunta 13 de 25

    Which background colors are allowed for high-visibility safety apparel in a work zone?

    • ANavy blue or black with silver reflective stripes
    • BBright red or bright white with a reflective border
    • CFluorescent orange-red, fluorescent yellow-green, or both
    • DAny color at all, as long as the vest has reflective stripes
    Ver respuesta

    Respuesta: C. Fluorescent orange-red, fluorescent yellow-green, or both

    The MUTCD requires a background of fluorescent orange-red, fluorescent yellow-green, or a combination of the two.

14. Pregunta 14 de 25

    Which apparel class is recommended for flaggers working at night?

    • APerformance Class 3
    • BNo class is needed at night
    • CPerformance Class 1
    • DAny class with a hard hat
    Ver respuesta

    Respuesta: A. Performance Class 3

    The MUTCD guidance calls for ANSI/ISEA 107 Performance Class 3 apparel for flaggers at night.

15. Pregunta 15 de 25

    What is the primary and preferred hand-signaling device for flaggers?

    • AThe STOP/SLOW paddle
    • BA whistle and hand signals
    • CA red flag
    • DA flashlight with a red cone
    Ver respuesta

    Respuesta: A. The STOP/SLOW paddle

    The MUTCD says the STOP/SLOW paddle should be the primary and preferred device because it gives drivers more positive guidance than red flags.

16. Pregunta 16 de 25

    When may a flagger use a red flag instead of a paddle?

    • AOnly in emergency situations
    • BOn any road under 45 mph
    • COnly during daylight hours
    • DWhenever the paddle is heavy
    Ver respuesta

    Respuesta: A. Only in emergency situations

    Under the current MUTCD, flags are for emergency situations only. The STOP/SLOW paddle is used the rest of the time.

17. Pregunta 17 de 25

    Except in emergencies, what does the MUTCD require for a flagger station used at night?

    • AIt must be moved every hour
    • BIt must have two flaggers
    • CIt must be illuminated
    • DIt must use a flag, not a paddle
    Ver respuesta

    Respuesta: C. It must be illuminated

    Except in emergency situations, flagger stations shall be illuminated when flagging is used at night.

18. Pregunta 18 de 25

    How does a flagger stop traffic with a STOP/SLOW paddle?

    • AHolds the paddle flat over the head and blows a whistle twice
    • BAims the STOP side at drivers and raises the free palm toward traffic
    • CTurns the paddle sideways and points with the free hand at the shoulder
    • DShows the SLOW side and waves the free hand toward the work area
    Ver respuesta

    Respuesta: B. Aims the STOP side at drivers and raises the free palm toward traffic

    To stop road users, the flagger faces traffic, aims the STOP face at drivers and extends the free arm with the palm toward traffic, raised above shoulder level.

19. Pregunta 19 de 25

    How does a flagger tell stopped drivers to go ahead with a paddle?

    • AShows the SLOW side and motions with the free hand to proceed
    • BShows the STOP side and waves both arms over the head
    • CKeeps the STOP side up and nods at the driver to go ahead
    • DLowers the paddle to the ground and steps back to the shoulder
    Ver respuesta

    Respuesta: A. Shows the SLOW side and motions with the free hand to proceed

    To let stopped drivers proceed, the flagger aims the SLOW face at them and motions with the free hand for them to go.

20. Pregunta 20 de 25

    May a flagger control one-lane, two-way traffic with hand movements alone, without a paddle, flag or AFAD?

    • AYes, on any road with low traffic and good sight lines
    • BYes, if the flagger wears a Class 3 vest and a hard hat
    • CNo, only uniformed police and incident responders may
    • DYes, once the flagger has worked at the station for an hour
    Ver respuesta

    Respuesta: C. No, only uniformed police and incident responders may

    The MUTCD prohibits controlling one-lane, two-way traffic with hand movements alone, except by uniformed law enforcement officers or emergency responders at incident scenes.

21. Pregunta 21 de 25

    On a level road with a speed of 40 mph, about how far ahead of the work does the MUTCD stopping sight distance table suggest for a flagger station?

    • A115 feet
    • B305 feet
    • C570 feet
    • D820 feet
    Ver respuesta

    Respuesta: B. 305 feet

    Table 6B-2 lists a stopping sight distance of 305 feet at 40 mph, used as a suggested flagger station distance.

22. Pregunta 22 de 25

    Where should a flagger stand before traffic has stopped?

    • AIn the middle of the open lane, facing oncoming drivers
    • BIn the oncoming lane, facing toward the work space
    • CBehind the work equipment, where drivers cannot see them
    • DOn the shoulder next to the lane, or in the closed lane
    Ver respuesta

    Respuesta: D. On the shoulder next to the lane, or in the closed lane

    The MUTCD says flaggers should stand on the shoulder next to the lane being controlled, or in the closed lane, and enter an open lane only after vehicles have stopped.

23. Pregunta 23 de 25

    Why should a flagger identify an escape route at the station?

    • ASo workers have a safe place to take their breaks
    • BTo get out of the way of a vehicle that does not stop
    • CTo store the paddle when not in use
    • DSo drivers can use it as a short detour around the work
    Ver respuesta

    Respuesta: B. To get out of the way of a vehicle that does not stop

    The MUTCD advises flaggers to identify an escape route so they can move away from an errant vehicle.

24. Pregunta 24 de 25

    Two flaggers control one-lane, two-way traffic. How does the MUTCD say they should work together?

    • AThey use the same STOP/SLOW paddle signals to talk to each other
    • BThey take turns every few minutes without talking to each other
    • CEach flagger lets traffic go whenever their own line gets too long
    • DOne coordinates; they talk by voice, radio or clear signals
    Ver respuesta

    Respuesta: D. One coordinates; they talk by voice, radio or clear signals

    For the flagger method, one flagger is the coordinator. Flaggers communicate by voice, electronically, or with signals that cannot be confused with flagging signals.

25. Pregunta 25 de 25

    What does the MUTCD say about leaving an Automated Flagger Assistance Device (AFAD) while it is in use?

    • AIt may be left alone during daylight
    • BIt must never be left unattended
    • CIt may be left alone if the gate arm is down
    • DIt may be left alone for up to 15 minutes
    Ver respuesta

    Respuesta: B. It must never be left unattended

    An AFAD may be operated only by a trained flagger, and the flagger shall not leave the AFAD unattended at any time while it is being used.

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