Traffic Cones | Road Cones In South Africa
Traffic cones, also known as road cones, are cone shaped markers that are placed on roads or pavements to temporarily direct traffic in a safe manner.
They are often used in road construction projects to create separation or to merge lanes for traffic. They can also be used as permanent markers used if a diversion is to stay in place to stay for a longer period of time, but in a slightly heavier plastic. This is done so that the construction workers have a safe environment in which to work in, as well as keeping the general road users safe as a pre-warning of the roadworks ahead.
Today’s road cones come in a range of bright coloured fluorescents: orange, lime green and red.
There are 3 methods commonly used to manufacture traffic cones:
- Injection moulding
- Flow moulding
- Compression moulding
Traffic Cones – Uses
Traffic cones are designed to be highly visible and easily movable. Various sizes are used, commonly ranging from around 300mm to a 450mm as well as a 750mm and 1m high road cone.
Traffic Management
Traffic cones, as the name already suggests, are most used to manage traffic in areas where there are obstructions or roadworks.
Due to the brightness of the colour, orange is the most used colour when cones are used for traffic management. However, the cones can also come in green and blue, but with a white retro-reflective stripe to increase visibility.
Parking Lots
Traffic cones are often used in parking lots at malls or in business parks to mark areas where people are not allowed to park. As well as to stop people from parking in disability parking spaces.
Indoor and Non-Traffic Use
There are a range of other, non-traffic, uses for cones, including but not limited to:
- Lay out courses for autocross competitions.
- In indoor public spaces to mark off areas which are closed to people, such as a restroom being out of order
- In indoor spaces to denote a dangerous condition, such as a slippery floor.
- On school playgrounds to limit areas of a playing field
- On ice rinks to define a class, private party, or private lesson areas.
- Great for running soccer drills on the field when practising.
