A worksite traffic control audit that checks what is set out on the road against the approved traffic plan: advance signs, speed zones, tapers and delineation, traffic controllers or flaggers, portable signals and message boards, barriers, the end of the queue, pedestrians and cyclists, works vehicles and night work. Switch off what the site does not use.
Worksite and Plan
Where the works are, what plan they run to, and who is responsible.
Audit Title
Contractor running the works
Address
Road and section
Works being carried out
Road layout
Normal speed limit
Traffic plan number and revision
Plan prepared by
Working hours
When was the audit done? — Daytime, works active, Daytime, works paused, Night, works active, Night, set out but unattended, Weekend or out of hours
Person running the site today
Your Company
Audited by
Your traffic management qualification and number
Date
Time
The Approved Plan
The paperwork — and whether the road matches it.
Has the traffic plan been approved by whoever must approve it — road authority, client or both? — Yes, No, N/A
Is a copy of the approved plan on site, with the supervisor? — Yes, No, N/A
Is it the right plan for today's stage of work and road layout? — Yes, No, N/A
Does what is set out on the road match the plan? — Yes, No, N/A
Has the set-out been changed from the plan?
Was the change approved by someone qualified, and marked up on the plan? — Yes, No, N/A
Photo of the marked-up plan
Is there a risk assessment for the traffic arrangements, covering out-of-hours as well as working hours? — Yes, No, N/A
Where a road occupancy permit or licence is needed, has it been issued and are its conditions being met? — Yes, No, N/A
Road occupancy permit or licence reference
Are the required clearances kept between traffic and workers, and between traffic and pedestrians? — Yes, No, N/A
Notes on the plan
Advance Warning and Signs
Everything a driver reads before they reach the work.
Are all signs clean, undamaged and reflective? — Yes, No, N/A
Can every sign be seen in time — not hidden by vegetation, parked vehicles, plant or glare? — Yes, No, N/A
Are the signs the size the plan and the road speed require? — Yes, No, N/A
Are signs mounted at the right height and position, on both sides where required? — Yes, No, N/A
Are signs spaced as the plan shows, giving drivers time to react at the approach speed? — Yes, No, N/A
Are sign stands weighted with approved sandbags or bases, not rocks or blocks? — Yes, No, N/A
Are permanent signs and markings that conflict with the works covered or removed? — Yes, No, N/A
Are signs that do not apply right now covered, turned or removed? — Yes, No, N/A
Is the site free of extra or contradictory signs and devices? — Yes, No, N/A
Notes on signs
Photographs — signs
Reduced Speed Zone
A lower limit through the works, used only when it is needed.
Is a reduced speed zone in place for the works?
Speed limit through the works
Has the reduced limit been approved, with the approval held on site? — Yes, No, N/A
Does the limit suit the work and the conditions drivers meet? — Yes, No, N/A
Is it only in force during the approved times — signs covered or removed outside them? — Yes, No, N/A
Are speed signs at the start of the zone placed on both sides, and repeated through long zones? — Yes, No, N/A
Is the normal limit signed again where the works end? — Yes, No, N/A
Is a record kept of when the speed zone signs go up and come down? — Yes, No, N/A
Watching traffic for a few minutes, are drivers actually slowing down? — Yes, No, N/A
Tapers, Cones and Line Marking
The lines that steer traffic past the work.
Are tapers long enough for the speed and the width of the shift? — Yes, No, N/A
Is each taper the right kind — a merge where a lane closes, a shift where traffic moves sideways? — Yes, No, N/A
Where the work is past a crest or a bend, has the taper been moved back so drivers see it in time? — Yes, No, N/A
Where two lanes close on a multi-lane road, are there two separate tapers with a gap between them? — Yes, No, N/A
Are cones and bollards spaced as the plan shows, along tapers and alongside the work? — Yes, No, N/A
Are cones and bollards the right size, upright and reflective? — Yes, No, N/A
Where temporary line marking is used, is it clear, and does old marking no longer confuse? — Yes, No, N/A
Notes on delineation
Photographs — tapers and cones
Traffic Controllers and Flaggers
The people standing on the road with a stop/slow bat.
Are traffic controllers or flaggers working on this site?
How many are working?
Is that the number the plan requires? — Yes, No, N/A
Have their qualification cards been checked and the numbers noted? — Yes, No, N/A
Names and card numbers
Are they wearing high-visibility clothing that meets the site's standard for day or night? — Yes, No, N/A
Is approaching traffic slow enough for a person to control it safely? — Yes, No, N/A
Can approaching drivers see each controller from far enough away to stop? — Yes, No, N/A
Does each controller have a clear escape route away from traffic? — Yes, No, N/A
Can controllers at each end communicate — by sight or radio? — Yes, No, N/A
Are the "prepare to stop" or "flagger ahead" signs out when controllers are working, and covered when not? — Yes, No, N/A
Are they controlling traffic the way their training and the plan require? — Yes, No, N/A
At night, do they have lit wands, extra lighting on their position and night-rated clothing? — Yes, No, N/A
Notes on traffic controllers
Portable Signals, Arrow Boards and Message Signs
The powered devices — approved, placed right, saying the right thing.
Are portable traffic signals in use?
Are the signals approved for this use and included in the plan? — Yes, No, N/A
Is the approach speed low enough for signal control? — Yes, No, N/A
Can drivers see the signals from far enough back to stop? — Yes, No, N/A
Is a stop line or holding point marked at each signal? — Yes, No, N/A
Are the timings set so the site clears before the other direction gets green? — Yes, No, N/A
Are the signs that go with the signals in place? — Yes, No, N/A
Is a flashing arrow board in use?
Is the arrow board positioned where the plan shows, ahead of the taper? — Yes, No, N/A
Is it showing the right display for the closure — arrow, chevron or caution bar? — Yes, No, N/A
Does it agree with the lane status signs nearby? — Yes, No, N/A
Is a variable message sign in use?
Is the message about these works, short, and readable at the approach speed? — Yes, No, N/A
Is the sign set back safely and protected where needed? — Yes, No, N/A
Are any coloured flashing lights on the unit turned off or approved? — Yes, No, N/A
Notes on powered devices
Safety Barriers
What actually stops an errant vehicle reaching the work.
Are safety barriers installed?
Is the barrier type the one the plan specifies, and rated for the traffic speed? — Yes, No, N/A
Is it installed as the manufacturer requires — connected, anchored, complete? — Yes, No, N/A
Are the exposed ends protected with an approved end treatment? — Yes, No, N/A
Is the deflection zone behind the barrier kept clear of people and materials? — Yes, No, N/A
Are water-filled barriers full? — Yes, No, N/A
Is the barrier undamaged, with no sections struck or displaced? — Yes, No, N/A
Photographs — barriers
End of Queue
Stopped traffic beyond the warning signs is where the worst crashes are.
Has the risk of crashes at the end of the queue been assessed and planned for? — Yes, No, N/A
Has the expected queue length been worked out, including at peak times? — Yes, No, N/A
Can approaching drivers see the back of the queue in time to stop? — Yes, No, N/A
Where the queue grows past the first warning sign, are more signs or a warning vehicle in place? — Yes, No, N/A
Is someone watching the queue while the works are running? — Yes, No, N/A
Notes on the queue
Pedestrians, Cyclists and Property Access
People on foot, on bikes, in wheelchairs — and the driveways along the site.
Is there a safe footpath through or around the works, separated from traffic? — Yes, No, N/A
Is the route usable by wheelchairs and prams — level, wide enough, with ramps where needed? — Yes, No, N/A
Where a footpath is closed, is the diversion signed from both ends? — Yes, No, N/A
Are cyclists provided for — a lane, a signed merge, or a safe alternative? — Yes, No, N/A
Can residents and businesses get in and out of their driveways safely? — Yes, No, N/A
Are bus stops and crossings either kept open safely or properly relocated? — Yes, No, N/A
Notes on pedestrians and cyclists
Photographs — footpaths and access
Works Vehicles and Plant
Getting machines in and out without surprising the traffic.
Are there safe entry and exit points for works vehicles, with room to slow down and speed up? — Yes, No, N/A
Are U-turns and reversing onto the live road avoided or controlled? — Yes, No, N/A
Are spotters used when plant or delivery vehicles reverse? — Yes, No, N/A
Are workers on foot kept apart from operating plant? — Yes, No, N/A
Do deliveries report to a set point and person before entering the work area? — Yes, No, N/A
Are works vehicles and stockpiles parked inside the protected area, not on the live road? — Yes, No, N/A
Do works vehicles on or beside the road show working beacons? — Yes, No, N/A
Notes on works vehicles
Night Work and Out of Hours
What the site looks like in headlights, and with nobody there.
Does the work run at night, or stay set out out of hours?
Is the work area lit well enough to work safely? — Yes, No, N/A
Are lights aimed so they do not dazzle approaching drivers? — Yes, No, N/A
Are cones, signs and barriers fitted with lights or reflective sleeves where required? — Yes, No, N/A
Is the set-out left out of hours still safe — hazards protected, unneeded signs covered? — Yes, No, N/A
Is the out-of-hours set-out checked at night and after storms? — Yes, No, N/A
Findings and Sign-Off
What was put right on the spot, what still needs doing, and who signed.
Did anything need stopping or fixing on the spot?
What was it, and who did you tell?
Corrective actions
What needs doing
Exactly where
Priority — Stop now, Today, This week, Before next inspection
Owner — a person, not a department
Due by
Photo
Anything done well that other crews should copy?
Recommended improvements
Any other photographs
Copies of this audit sent to
Auditor — signature
Supervisor on site — printed name
Site supervisor — signature
Construction
Traffic Control Audit
A worksite traffic control audit that checks what is set out on the road against the approved traffic plan: advance signs, speed zones, tapers and delineation, traffic controllers or flaggers, portable signals and message boards, barriers, the end of the queue, pedestrians and cyclists, works vehicles and night work. Switch off what the site does not use.
✓Free — no account, no trial, no card.
Fill this in and download the finished PDF. Your answers stay on this device as you type. We ask for an email address once, at the download.
0 of 86 answered0%
A traffic control audit compares what is actually set out on the road with the approved traffic plan for the works — every sign, cone, taper, barrier and controller position — and checks that it still protects the workers, the drivers and the people walking past. This one is ordered the way a driver meets the site, switches off the parts your site does not use, and works under any regional manual. You can fill it in here and download a finished PDF without creating an account.
The plan on paper and the plan on the road
Every roadwork site of any size works to an approved plan — called a traffic guidance scheme or traffic control plan in Australia, a temporary traffic control plan under the MUTCD in the US, and laid out to Chapter 8 and the Safety at Street Works code in the UK. The plan is only as good as the set-out. Signs get knocked down, cones get moved to let a delivery in and never moved back, a lane closure grows by fifty metres without the taper following it.
So the audit starts with the plan: is there an approved one, is it on site, is it the right one for today's stage of work, and does what is on the road match it. Any change from the plan should be approved and marked up on it, not improvised.
Drive it, then walk it
Drive through the site in each direction at the posted speed before you get out of the vehicle. You will see what a driver sees: whether the first warning sign gives you time to react, whether the taper is clear at that speed, whether a crest or a bend hides the end of the queue. Then walk it with the plan in hand and check spacing, sizes and positions.
Do both by day and, if the site works or stays set out overnight, by night. Signs that look fine at noon can be invisible in headlights.
What this audit covers
The sections follow the order of approach, and each optional one switches off when it does not apply:
The plan, approvals and any road occupancy permit.
Advance warning signs and their condition, size, height and spacing.
Reduced speed zones — approved, signed, and lifted when work stops.
Tapers, cones, bollards and temporary line marking.
Portable signals, arrow boards and variable message signs.
Safety barriers and their deflection zone.
The end of the queue, where most serious roadwork crashes happen.
Pedestrians, cyclists and property access.
Works vehicles, plant, deliveries and night work.
Regional rules, plain words
Distances, sign codes and qualification names differ by country and often by state. This form avoids manual clause numbers on purpose and asks whether each item meets the approved plan and the manual that applies to you — so the auditor's knowledge of the local standard does the work, and the record still reads clearly to the client, the road authority and the crew.
Common questions
Who can carry out a traffic control audit?
Someone trained in designing and inspecting traffic control for roadworks under the rules where the work is — in many Australian states, a person holding the relevant traffic management ticket; in the US, a person with work zone traffic control training; in the UK, a person trained to the street works and Chapter 8 standards. The road authority or the client often specifies who.
How often should traffic control be inspected?
A check when the set-out is first installed, at every change of stage, at the start of each shift, after dark if it stays out overnight, and periodically during long works. A formal audit like this one is often weekly or at milestones, with a quick daily check in between.
What is a taper?
The angled line of cones or bollards that moves traffic out of a closed lane or shifts it sideways. Its length depends on the speed of the road and the width of the shift; a taper that is too short forces drivers into a sudden swerve.
Why does the end of the queue matter so much?
Because drivers coming over a crest or round a bend at full speed meet stopped traffic they did not expect. The queue grows well beyond the site, so the warning has to move with it — extra signs, a protection vehicle, or adjusting stop times so the queue stays short.
Does this cover pedestrians and cyclists?
Yes. A roadwork site has to keep a safe, accessible route for people on foot — including wheelchairs and prams — and for cyclists, or provide a signed alternative. These are among the most often missed items in roadwork audits.