What role do cones play in work zones?

Cones serve as crucial tools in work zones by providing visual guidance for traffic flow. Their bright colors and reflective surfaces make them highly visible to drivers, helping to delineate various traffic patterns and create safe paths for vehicles around construction activities. By effectively signaling where vehicles should go or where they should avoid, cones help maintain safe operations in and around work zones, reducing the likelihood of accidents.

The other choices do not accurately reflect the primary function of cones in work zones. For example, blocking access to construction equipment is more typically managed by barriers or fencing rather than cones. Indicating parking areas is not a role that cones are designed for, as they are primarily about directing traffic rather than designating specific locations for parking. Cones also do not serve as tools for measuring distances; other specialized equipment is used for that purpose.