Traffic Guard

One of the first things parents teach their children is to look both ways before they cross the street. Sometimes, however, the cars just keep on coming, at which point all you can do is stop looking and make a run for it, hoping the cars will stop as you dart from one side of the street to the other.

Although people do it every day, that’s a dangerous way to get where you’re going, which is why governments and construction companies hire Traffic Guards.

As a Traffic Guard, you make roads safe. You’re easily identified by your neon orange or yellow vest, and what you do depends on what type of Traffic Guard you are. If you’re a Crossing Guard, for instance, you’re often positioned near schools and railroad crossings, where you help people safely cross the street by directing cars to stop for pedestrians. If you’re a Parking Guard, on the other hand, you’re typically positioned at the entrance to a stadium or shopping mall, helping motorists get in and out of the parking lot while also finding an empty parking spot. Finally, if you’re a Flagger, your job is directing motorists with signs and flags to help them avoid areas where construction, accidents, or traffic jams are taking place, which simultaneously protects construction crews and controls congestion in spots where there’s limited mobility.

Although you’re often called a “ Traffic Cop, ” you don’t have any authority to enforce traffic laws. Instead, you’re more like a human traffic light, telling people in cars and on foot where to go and when.