A roadwork safety unit mounts on the receiver hitch of a vehicle and connects to the conventional trailer lighting coupling. The unit includes a carrier for carrying the usual equipment to a site where the safety unit is to be used, for example cones, picks, shovels, rakes and pole-mounted signage. The carrier also carries a telescopically extendible standard supporting a light unit that includes a red stop light and a flashing amber warning light. The lights may be operated by a traffic control person also handling the pole-mounted signage. The unit is quickly and easily mounted on a vehicle for transport to a roadwork site and can be transported along the road with moving roadworks. Floodlights are mounted on the standard to illuminate the area beside the vehicle where the traffic control person would normally be standing. This provides added visibility and safety in night use.