Traffic cone

Traffic cones are usually used to divert traffic. The reflective sleeves are for nighttime visibility; the bosses at the top ease handling and can be used for attaching caution tape.

The Traffic cone on the right is used in the United Kingdom to indicate that no parking is allowed.

Traffic cones, also called traffic pylons, road cones, highway cones, safety cones, construction cones or (colloquially) witches' hats or safety wizards, are usually cone-shaped markers that are placed on roads or footpaths to temporarily redirect traffic in a safe manner. They are often used to create separation or merge lanes during road construction projects or automobile accidents, although heavier, more permanent markers or signs are used if the diversion is to stay in place for a long period of time.

Creation

Traffic cones were invented in 1914 by Charles P. Rudebaker.^[1] Although originally made of concrete, today's versions are more commonly brightly-coloured thermoplastic or rubber cones. Recycled PVCs from bottles can be used to create modern traffic cones.^[2] Not all traffic cones are conical. Pillar shaped movable bollards fulfil a similar function.

Usage

Traffic management

Traffic cones are typically used outdoors during road work or other situations requiring traffic redirection or advance warning of hazards or dangers, or the prevention of traffic. Traffic cones are also used to mark where children are playing or to block off an area. For night time use or low-light situations traffic cones are usually fitted with a retroreflective sleeve to increase visibility.

With the addition of retroreflective collars, traffic cones meet the requirements in the US Federal Highway Administration's Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD), which was amended in 1989 to mandate increased night-time visibility via the placement of additional reflective white bands on cones. Reflective collars, white strips made from white reflective plastic, slip over cones snugly, and tape or adhesive can be used to attach the collars to the cones permanently.

Traffic cones are designed to be highly visible and easily movable. Various sizes are used, commonly ranging from around 30 cm (11.8 in) to a little over 1 m (39.4 in). Traffic cones come in many different colors, with orange, yellow, pink, and red being the most common colors due to their brightness. Others come in green and blue, and may also have a retroreflective strip to increase their visibility.

Types and sizes

Giant traffic cone in Seattle, Washington.

Typical traffic cones are fluorescent "safety" orange, as well as lime green. The traffic cones also commonly come with reflective striping around them, to increase visibility at night time.

In the United States they come in such sizes as:

• 12 in (305 mm), 1.5 lb (0.68 kg) – for indoor/outdoor applications
• 18 in (457 mm), 3 lb (1.4 kg) – for outdoor applications such as free-way line painting
• 28 in (711 mm), 7 lb (3.2 kg) – for Non-highway applications e.g. Local street
• 28 in (711 mm), 10 lb (4.5 kg) – for free-way/high-way applications (With reflective stripes)
• 36 in (914 mm), 10 lb (4.5 kg) – for free-way/high-way applications (With reflective stripes)

Other forms

Cones are easy to move or remove. Where sturdier (and larger) markers are needed, construction sites use traffic barrels (plastic orange barrels with reflective stripes, normally about the same size as a 55 US gallons (46 imp gal; 208 L) drum), which may be weighted with sandbags. When a lane closure must also be a physical barrier against cars accidentally crossing it, a Jersey barrier is preferred. See also Fitch Barrier.

In many countries such as Australia or American states such as California, traffic barrels are rarely seen. Devices called bollards are used instead of cones where larger and sturdier warning or delineation devices are needed. Typically, bollards are 1,150 mm (45 in) high fluorescent orange posts with reflective sleeve and heavy weight rubber bases. Larger devices such as barrier boards may be used instead of cones where larger areas need to be excluded or for longer periods. In Canada they are often referred to as pylons.

Indoor and non traffic use

Cones are also frequently used in indoor public spaces to mark off areas which are closed to pedestrians, such as a restroom being out of order, or to denote a dangerous condition, such as a slippery floor. They can be used on school playgrounds to limit areas of a playing field. Some of the cones used for this purpose are miniature, as small as 5 cm tall, and some are disposable full size cones made of biodegradable paper.

Being distinctive, easily portable and usually left unguarded, traffic cones are often stolen. Students are frequently blamed, to the extent that the British National Union of Students has attempted to play down this "outdated stereotype".^[3]

The term "road cone" is also commonly used in the construction industry as a lighthearted insult. It is used to describe an individual who spends most of the day just standing still, making no attempt to get involved in the work they should be doing.

Traffic cones in popular culture

Traffic cones are ubiquitous in many urban environments and around highway construction or repair projects. In 2007 the artist Dennis Oppenheim commemorated the traffic cone with a monumental sculpture of five five-metre tall cones. They were installed temporarily in Miami,^[4] Seattle's Olympic Sculpture Park,^[5] and Seoul, Korea. An orange cone is the logo used by VideoLAN (best known for its VLC media player software).

See also

• Amsterdammertje
• Bollard
• Cones Hotline
• Construction Barrel
• Road traffic control
• Traffic guard
• Wellington Statue, Glasgow

References

1. ^ "The Traffic Cone - Icons of England". ICONS. http://www.icons.org.uk/nom/nominations/the-traffic-cone. Retrieved 25 February 2010. 
2. ^ "Plastic". Encyclopædia Britannica Online. 2010. http://search.eb.com/eb/article-82494. Retrieved 25 February 2010. "PVC recovered from bottles may be used in traffic cones" 
3. ^ "Rowdy students 'must be tackled'". BBC Online. 24 January 2006. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/education/4640168.stm. Retrieved 23 November 2010. 
4. ^ "Scope Miami-2007". http://joannemattera.blogspot.com/2007/12/fair-factor-art-miami.html. Retrieved 2009-02-12. 
5. ^ Seattle Post-Intelligencer, "Oppenheim's big cones are a caution", May 29, 2008

External links

• wikt:traffic cone
• Federal Highway Administration Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices
• Traffic Cone Preservation Society
• The Cone Epicentre -- Many photos of traffic cones