5.3Location and visibility of PTCD#
Visibility of the PTCD is a key consideration when designing traffic guidance schemes. The traffic management designer should consider the following during the development of the traffic guidance scheme:
- vehicle actuated, or fixed time operation of a portable traffic signal system should be visible to motorists at a minimum distance of 150 m
- a PTCD under manual operation by a traffic controller must have high visibility to motorists
- the PTCD is located no further than 1 m from the travelled path, mast is vertical, footing is stable and the traffic signal is weighted down if required
- the site is signed to 60 km/h maximum on approach to the PTCD (as nominated in QGTTM)
- the impact of work vehicles and plant on the visibility of the PTCD
- if the PTCD is to be used at night, consideration should be given to the potential for driver distraction (such as from retro-reflective stripes on the traffic controller uniform, light from the traffic controller's illuminated wand, and the indicator lights on the hand-held remote controller),and
- vehicle-mounted warning devices can significantly diminish the visibility of the PTCD, especially when the vehicle is parked in the background.
