What is the ultimate goal of a watchman's signals?

The ultimate goal of a watchman's signals is to prevent accidents involving roadway work groups. Watchmen are typically on the lookout for train movements and use signals to communicate with workers about the approaching trains, ensuring their safety while they are near or on the tracks. By effectively alerting workers in real-time, watchmen help to mitigate risks that could lead to accidents, thereby enhancing the overall safety of both the workers and the rail operations.

While communication with other workers and warning the public about train activity are also important, the primary focus of watchman's signals is to specifically safeguard the work group. Maintaining train schedules, while crucial for operational efficiency, does not directly align with the primary safety function that watchman's signals serve.