A vehicle strategically placed to protect the workers and work activity. The protection vehicle may be in a stationary work zone or be the vehicle immediately behind the work vehicle(s) in an array of mobile work vehicles. The protection vehicle is placed after the buffer space and sufficiently in advance of the work space protected to allow for run-out if hit but not so far in advance that traffic can enter the space before the work space. MUTCD 2009 Edition with May 2012 Revisions 1 and 2