What taper length is specified for the cone deployment?

• A. 50 feet taper.
• B. 100 feet taper.
• C. 200 feet taper.
• D. 300 feet taper.

Answer: (C)

When you’re using cones to close a lane, the taper is the stretch of road leading up to the blocked area where traffic is encouraged to slow and merge. The length of that taper matters because drivers need enough distance to notice the change, react, and safely reduce speed. A 200-foot taper provides a solid balance: it gives motorists a clear warning and enough time to decelerate and merge before the blocked lane, reducing the risk of sudden braking or rear-end collisions. Shorter tapers, like 50 or 100 feet, often don’t give drivers enough warning, while a 300-foot taper can be unnecessarily long for many scenes and complicate scene management. Thus, 200 feet is the standard taper length specified for cone deployment in this context.