Work zone signs · W21-1
Workers sign
Archive file: W21-01 Workers/W21-01 Workers 30x30.svg
FHWA public-use information
What it means
People are working beside or within the roadway.
Source: FHWA MUTCD — MUTCD 11th Edition with Revision 1 (December 2025), Section 6H.18, paragraph 01, PDF page 847.
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Meaning
Workers warns that people are working in or close to the roadway. Pennsylvania’s guidance emphasizes the possibility that workers are very near traffic. The sign’s message concerns people, rather than only a change in pavement or lane width.
What to do
Take extra care and reduce speed as you approach. Scan the work area for people and equipment instead of waiting for a person to step into your lane before responding.
Where it is used
The warning alerts approaching traffic to workers near or in the road. Federal guidance calls for it when workers occupy the roadway and no other warning devices are present.
A sign to tell apart
Flagger Ahead warns of a person controlling traffic. Workers warns of people doing work near the travel path. A flagger’s directions may require a specific stop or slow response in addition to the care needed around other workers.
Practice with explanations
These are original learning questions based on the cited handbooks. Read each answer and its explanation below.
1. What does Pennsylvania’s Workers Ahead warning tell you?
- Only an empty construction parking area lies ahead.
- The work zone has ended.
- People may be working on or very near the road.
Answer: C. People may be working on or very near the road.
The warning identifies workers close to passing traffic.
2. Which response fits Pennsylvania’s guidance as you approach the Workers warning?
- Reduce speed and take extra care through the area.
- Wait for a worker to enter your lane before slowing.
- Treat the sign as relevant only to trucks.
Answer: A. Reduce speed and take extra care through the area.
Work-zone guidance calls for alert, slower driving around workers and equipment.
State source coverage
Handbook coverage and sample questions do not prove that a sign will appear on your exam. Even a published test scope cannot guarantee an individual exam question.
Pennsylvania
Handbook coverage
PennDOT explains Workers Ahead in its work-zone section. This documents handbook coverage, without promising selection on an individual exam.
Pennsylvania permit sources · Practice with Pennsylvania questions
State variations
State-specific variations have not been independently established for this study.
Verified question coverage
These free state-bank questions were independently verified. This does not establish complete state-bank readiness, app availability or what will appear on your permit exam.
No currently verified state-bank question is available for this sign.
The linked 20-question permit quizzes do not currently include this sign.
This meaning is a federal MUTCD reference. Check your state's handbook for its rules and sign coverage; this page does not establish what appears on a state permit exam.
Try the free road sign quiz or find your state's handbook.
