Traffic control is a crucial step in a number of road works, renovation and events management scenarios.

The key thing to remember is that whether you're directing cars, bikes or pedestrians on foot - you're still directing people and the best way to get their attention is visually.

Signage will form a key part of your strategy - no matter what the situation.

Portable signs are ideal - they get people to take notice and you can position them wherever they're needed the most.

Arrow boards are a great, flexible choice when you need to direct people or transport vehicles.

These units are self-powered - solar panels harness the sun's energy and use it to charge internal batteries.

High quality LED lamps will be able to lead people in the right direct at day or night.

As they are road registered, you can transport them by mounting them on top of a trailer.

And of course, should you need to change their position you can simply move the car and reset the direction of the arrows if need be.

For those times when you need to convey a more specific message - such as 'roadwork next 10kms' or 'detour ahead' - you'll be better off hiring a variable message sign (VMS).

These units are also self-powered but have the added bonus of being able to program specific messages.

By detailing the exactness of the information you want to convey, you'll cut down on crowd or commuter confusion.

Such units are great for both daylight and night use for traffic control, sporting events or simply to let people know of a change in the available roads.

VMS units are available in coloured options that add that extra attention-grabbing element to your message.

Choosing between a combination of four colours is easy and means that you can be sure your audience is aware of the situation.

Ultimately, the kind of message you need to get across will dictate which sign is the most suited for you.

There may be times when you need a combination of all three - VMS signs to give people instructions and arrow boards to lead them the rest of the way.

With the right signs, you'll find that you can better manage traffic control - keeping people informed and safe at the same time.