National Work Zone Awareness Week will continue as scheduled on April 20-24. However, Michigan officials canceled the April 21 kickoff event in accord with CDC guidelines regarding the coronavirus pandemic.

As of Sunday, the CDC recommended groups not hold gatherings of 50 or more people for the next eight weeks. Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) officials discussed the issue with ATSSA today. It was agreed that MDOT will instead host next year’s event. Virginia DOT had been scheduled to host in 2021 but will now host in 2022.

If you weren’t able to attend the 50^th Annual Convention & Traffic Expo or haven’t mastered the art of being in two places at once, you missed some great presentations by experts in the roadway safety field. The great news is, you can find out what you missed during the convention’s concurrent education sessions!

Recordings of the education sessions are now online and available for free. In addition, materials provided by the presenters are posted there as well.

FREDERICKSBURG, Va. (Jan. 28, 2020) – Three exhibitors at ATSSA’s 50th Annual Convention & Traffic Expo received Innovation Awards today in recognition of new products created by their companies that contribute to the industry’s mission of advancing roadway safety and working Toward Zero Deaths. Products from Royal Innovative Solutions, Pi Variables and VER-MAC were selected as first, second and third place, respectively. They were chosen on the criteria of lifesaving qualities, degree of need, innovation, design and eligibility under the Highway Safety Improvement Program. 

FREDERICKSBURG, Va. (Jan. 27, 2020) – The American Traffic Safety Services Association (ATSSA), in partnership with the National Academy of Sciences’ Transportation Research Board (TRB), honored the winners of the Traffic Control Device Challenge (TCD Challenge) today during a ceremony at the Association’s 50^th Anniversary Convention & Traffic Expo. Engineering students from across the U.S. competed in the TCD Challenge, which was titled: “Connected and Autonomous Innovations for Improving Work Zone Safety.”

FREDERICKSBURG, Va. (Jan. 21, 2020) – The American Traffic Safety Services Association (ATSSA) selected 20 companies to participate in its 2020 New Products Rollout event, which is held in conjunction with the 50th Annual Convention & Traffic Expo on Jan. 26 in booth #1679 at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center in New Orleans. 

ATSSA, in partnership with the National Academy of Sciences’ Transportation Research Board (TRB), honored the winners of the ATSSA/TRB Traffic Control Device Challenge (TCD Challenge) on Jan. 13.

ATSSA's board of directors recently approved the formation of a Traffic Signals Unit as a membership unit category within the association earlier this year at the March board meeting.

On June 19, 2019 at the National Committee on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (NCUTCD) Connected and Automated Vehicle (CAV) Task Force Meeting, updates on signage and pavement marking uniformity were the main topics of discussion. With CAVs entering U.S. roadways every day, the need for uniformity is growing exponentially. Transformational technologies on CAVs raise new questions for groups like the NCUTCD, such as signage that appears on the exterior of CAVs. For instance, many autonomous vehicles (AVs) manufacturers have their own signage displays on the exterior of the vehicle that alert human drivers and pedestrians of the CAV’s intentions on the roadway.

Connected and Automated Vehicles (CAVs) rely heavily on ATSSA member products such as pavement markings, signs, and traffic control devices. These products will be an essential factor in the advancement of CAVs and critical in moving toward zero deaths on our roadways.
 

The American Traffic Safety Services Association (ATSSA) and Transportation Research Board Standing Committee on Traffic Control Devices (AHB50) have launched the 2020 Traffic Control Device (TCD) Student Challenge.