Lane +1 blocking refers to which practice?

• A. Using the affected lane plus an additional lane to create a protected lateral space.
• B. Blocking the opposite direction lane only.
• C. Blocking the on-ramp lane.
• D. Blocking all lanes around the scene.

Answer: (A)

Lane +1 blocking is a traffic safety tactic used on high-speed roadways to protect workers by creating a protected workspace. It involves closing the lane where the incident or hazard is located plus the next lane over in the same travel direction, forming a buffer zone between moving traffic and the work area. This extra closed lane increases lateral clearance, reduces the likelihood of vehicles drifting into the work area, and provides room for responders to set up, approach, and operate safely. It’s more protective than blocking only the affected lane because the adjacent lane closure slows and channels traffic more effectively, decreasing the chance of secondary crashes. Blocking the opposite direction lane or blocking all lanes isn’t the standard lane +1 approach and would disrupt traffic flow more than necessary. Blocking an on-ramp serves a different purpose and isn’t what lane +1 refers to.