FLARES ARE USED TO CONTROL TRAFFIC FOR A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME BEFORE MORE VISIBLE BARRIERS SUCH AS CONES ARE AVAILABLE. THERE ARE THREE TYPES OF FLARES: SPIKED, NONSPIKED, AND WIRE STAND. SOME STATES ONLY ALLOW CERTAIN TYPES. OFFICERS SHOULD PLACE FLARES IN A WAY THAT WILL SAFELY AND GRADUALLY DIVERT TRAFFIC AWAY FROM THE TROUBLED VEHICLES AND THE PATROL CAR. THEY SHOULD HAVE A CALM AND CONTROLLED ATTITUDE AND AVOID ANY POSSIBLE DELAYS BY MAKING CERTAIN A TOW TRUCK WILL SOON ARRIVE. WHEN USING THE FLARES, THEY SHOULD BE AWARE OF ANY FIRE HAZARDS SUCH AS LEAKING GASOLINE AND DRY GRASS. WHEN LIGHTING, THEY SHOULD POINT THE FLARE AWAY AND DOWN TOWARD THE GROUND, WHILE TURNING THEIR EYES AWAY AND HOLDING IT AWAY FROM THEIR BODIES. THEY SHOULD REMOVE ANY MOLTEN MATERIAL FROM THE GROUND AND SHOULD HOLD FLARES AT THEIR SIDE WHEN WALKING. WHEN POSITIONING FLARES, THEY SHOULD WALK TOWARD ONCOMING TRAFFIC TO ONE SIDE ONLY. THESE SUGGESTIONS MAY VARY DEPENDING ON WEATHER CONDITIONS, THE TYPE OF ACCIDENT, AND WHAT THE OFFICER WANTS TO ACCOMPLISH IN THE PARTICULAR SITUATION. AN INSTRUCTOR'S GUIDE IS INCLUDED.