Burghy, Seymour, and Binker are the latest employees of Norfolk, Virginia. All three share an important job: protecting construction workers in work zones from being hit by cars. Burghy, Seymour, and Binky also happen to be monsters. Monsters made out of construction cones.

Road construction work zones are a dangerous place to drive–and to work. The Association of General Contractors explains that 64% of highway contractors report that vehicles crashed into their work zones in the past year. The BLS reports 108 construction workers died in accidents in 2021. Meanwhile 778 drivers and passengers died in work zone accidents.

Construction zones are plastered with signs urging drivers to slow down. And many states hit speeders with double fines in construction zones. But with none of these strategies working, the city of Norfolk hatched another scheme. And by a scheme, I mean three monsters.

Norfolk Virginia’s traffic cone monsters

Instead of regular signs at its construction zones, the city stacked barrels and warning cones into bizarre shapes. Bob Delehaya, program supervisor with Norfolk Public Works said, “They’re monsters, right? They’re the creatures that live under your bed, and everybody’s afraid of the monsters.”

But these monsters come in peace: “They are advance warnings for the motorists and let them know, ‘Hey, we’ve got people working,’” Delehaya said. “We want it to be safe for the workers.”

The program isn’t just about workers. “Respect the work zone for the workers, respect the work zone for motorists and the pedestrians as well.”

Why did Norfolk dial up its game, from regular signs to monster sculptures? “If you miss these signs because you’re texting or you’re on your phone, you could be injuring somebody…You’re just within a split second away from a major incident, God forbid it’s a really serious injury or fatality.”

So if Burghy, Seymour, and Binky look scary, remember they’re out in all weather just to protect drivers from something even scarier.