The invention relates to a road making machine with a running gear and at least one material deflector which is arranged in front of the running gear in the driving direction and which can be pivoted up and lowered. The road making machine includes a control system by means of which an operator can choose at least between a laying operating mode and a transport operating mode. The control system is adapted to automatically completely pivot the material deflector up in the transport operating mode, and to let the operator adjust the pivot position of the material deflector manually in the laying operating mode.