FREDERICKSBURG, Va. (Aug. 9, 2021) – The American Traffic Safety Services Foundation is pleased to announce donations totaling $3,500 from Enterprise Holdings Foundation, which will be used to support the Roadway Worker Memorial Scholarship program.

The ATSS Foundation received $2,000 in June from the Enterprise Holdings Foundation at the request of Massana Construction Inc. of Tyrone, Ga., in memory of Michael Keyser Sr. and his son, Nathaniel Keyser, employees who were killed as a result of a work zone incident on Aug. 8, 2017, in Forney, Texas.

The ATSS Foundation received $1,500 in July from the Enterprise Holdings Foundation at the request of D2K Traffic Safety Inc. of Naperville, Ill.

A delegation from the Michigan legislature, in partnership with the Michigan ATSSA Chapter (MI-ATSSA) and the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT), toured an active work zone this week in Flint, Mich.

The legislators experienced first-hand how intense a roadway construction rebuild site can be for workers and motorists. 

Reps. Tim Sneller and John Cherry, as well as Montel Menifee from the office of Michigan Senate Minority Leader Jim Ananich, took part in the tour, which focused on safety for both workers and motorists within work zones. 

Luke Neurauter, senior research associate in the Division of Vehicle, Driver and Safety Systems at the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute (VTTI), is asking ATSSA members and others in the roadway safety industry to take part in a survey on the impact of connected and automated vehicles (CAVs) on work zones.

The purpose is to “better understand how CAV technologies will behave when they encounter typical work zone scenarios and what can be done (from the perspectives of both the CAVs and work zone operations) to ensure ultimate compatibility between all available technologies,” according to information from VTTI Senior Research Associate Tammy Trimble.

The research is sponsored by the Transportation Research Board (TRB).

Horizon Signal Technologies Inc. raised $53,000 for The ATSS Foundation through the auction of two trailer-mounted portable traffic signals, setting a fundraising record.

Street Smart Rental, based in Lino Lakes, Minn., made the winning bid of $49,000, with Horizon Signal adding $1,000 to bring the bid total to an even $50,000. In addition, GP Roadway Solutions of Honolulu, Hawaii, which also participated in the auction, donated $3,000, bringing the grand total to $53,000, said Lori Diaz, director of The ATSS Foundation.

Horizon Signal donated 100% of the proceeds from the May auction to The Foundation, which provides education about work zone safety and supports the families of people killed or permanently disabled in work zone incidents.

Two reports this month offer stark reminders of the risks of highway work zones and the importance of roadway safety.

Today, we look at results of a survey of highway workers regarding work zone incidents and the issues contractors identified as key to improving safety for employees in work zones.

The Associated General Contractors of America (AGC) and HCSS Software Solutions surveyed highway contractors on their experiences with respect to work zone safety in 2020. Their 2021 Work Zone Awareness Survey Results, which included responses from 292 firms, found that 60% of contractors reported at least one motor vehicle crash in their work zone.

Two reports this month offer stark reminders of the risks of highway work zones and the importance of roadway safety.

Today we look at the latest data from the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), which released its early estimate of motor vehicle traffic fatalities for 2020.

Tomorrow, we will look at results of a survey of highway workers regarding work zone incidents and the issues contractors identified as key to improving safety for employees in work zones.

The National Work Zone Memorial makes roadway safety personal by inscribing the names of people killed in work zone incidents. Each person left behind loved ones and co-workers who grieve the loss.

Members can help raise awareness of the toll of work zone incidents by hosting the tribute formally known as “The National Work Zone Memorial - Respect and Remembrance: Reflections of Life on the Road.”

The Foundation encourages ATSSA members, ATSSA chapters, state departments of transportation (DOTs) and industry leaders to host the Memorial at events. It is now available in two formats – a traveling Memorial and a virtual Memorial.

The Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee today unanimously passed the Surface Transportation Reauthorization Act of 2021 (STRA), its proposal to reauthorize the expiring highway program.

The proposed legislation, which was crafted in a bipartisan manner, funds surface transportation programs at $304 billion over five years, which is a 34% increase over current funding levels. This funding includes historic funding levels for the Highway Safety Improvement Program (HSIP), $16.8 billion over the five-year period, which is a nearly $2 billion increase over current funding levels.

ATSSA worked hard to ensure that funding levels for HSIP were as high as possible and then continued to work to insert additional safety provisions and funding in other programs throughout the legislation. Now our team will work to ensure these advocacy successes remain in the package as it winds its way through Congress this summer.

National Work Zone Awareness Week (NWZAW) begins today with a straightforward theme: Drive Safe. Work Safe. Save Lives.

Statistics are sobering. In 2019, 842 people were killed in 762 fatal crashes in work zones, including 135 roadway workers, according to the National Work Zone Safety Information Clearinghouse. That means most of the people killed were motorists, passengers and pedestrians.

Today is Work Zone Safety Training Day, in which employers and workers are encouraged to pause voluntarily during the workday for safety demonstrations, training in hazard recognition and fall prevention, and talks about hazards, protective methods and the company’s safety policies, goals and expectations.

Start preparing now for the Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) eighth annual National Stand-Down to Prevent Falls in Construction scheduled for May 3-7.

All industries engaged in construction work are encouraged to take part to raise awareness of the hazards and provide training for their personnel.

OSHA is offering resources for employers at a webpage dedicated to the National Safety Stand-Down.