Our Unsung Road Safety Heroes
Road Safety Week 2025 continues to shine a spotlight on “Road Safety Heroes,” it’s time to recognise one of the most overlooked guardians of our roads—the humble road cone. Despite facing unprecedented criticism in recent months due to rising traffic management costs, these orange silent workers deserve our respect and appreciation for their crucial role in keeping both the public and road workers safe.

Standing Guard in All Conditions
Day and night, through rain, wind, and scorching sun, road cones silently mark hazards, direct traffic, and create safe work zones. Their bright orange colour—specifically designed for maximum visibility—serves as an immediate alert to drivers, preventing countless accidents and near-misses every day. Road cones are often the first and last line of defense for our road workers.  They create a buffer zone that allows essential maintenance and construction to proceed while keeping both workers and passing motorists safe.

Cost-Effective Safety Solutions

In an era where budgets are stretched thin, the road cone represents remarkable value. Compared to electronic signage, barriers, or other traffic management equipment, cones provide essential safety at a fraction of the cost. A standard traffic cone costs between $28-$35, yet can prevent thousands of dollars in potential accident damages and, more importantly, save lives.

This cost-effectiveness allows for widespread deployment, ensuring that even minor works can be properly marked and managed—something that might be economically unfeasible with more expensive alternatives.

Built to Last

Modern road cones are engineering marvels in their own right. Constructed from durable PVC or rubber compounds, they can withstand being driven over, kicked, or exposed to harsh weather conditions while maintaining their shape and visibility. Many cones remain in service for several years of continuous use—an impressive lifespan for equipment that endures such challenging conditions.

Their stackable design also means they’re easy to transport and store, reducing logistical costs and carbon footprints associated with road safety equipment.

Sustainability Champions

Perhaps most surprising is the road cone’s environmental credentials. In a significant step toward sustainability, RTL has implemented a recycling program across New Zealand for end-of-life cones.

When a cone reaches the end of its useful life, it doesn’t need to become landfill. Our RTL recycling initiative processes old cones into raw materials that can be used in manufacturing new safety products, creating a circular economy for road safety equipment. The recycled material from just one standard road cone can be used in producing new traffic management items, playground surfaces, or even incorporated into road cones themselves.

Respect the Cone

Next time you are momentarily inconvenienced by a line of road cones, remember that they are there for your protection. These silent guardians deserve recognition as true road safety heroes—affordable, visible, durable, and increasingly sustainable.

As we celebrate Road Safety Week, let’s change the conversation around traffic management costs and instead focus on the value road cones provide. They may not wear capes, but road cones save lives every day on New Zealand’s roads.

This article is part of our Road Safety Week 2025 “Road Safety Heroes” campaign, highlighting the often-overlooked contributors to keeping our roads safe.