The overreaching contractual obligation to assume responsibility for another party beyond the extent of your own negligence or willful misconduct is unreasonable and a clear and present danger to the industry.  

I recently listened while an ATSSA member shared an experience, recounting the unsettling details of a lawsuit that altogether changed his approach to every project. For this member, had it not been for a negotiated settlement in exchange for a full release, a jury award would have easily exceeded the available limits of liability insurance and forced a sell-off of corporate assets. The hard-to-swallow reality of the matter was his involvement was simply a consequence of a far-reaching contractual obligation. 

The business survived with memory of the experience serving as an endless reminder to never again roll over for blanket contractual risk-shifting.

Motor vehicle crashes at work zones are something we deal with every day. 

In the roadway safety infrastructure industry, we are plagued by the hazards posed by distracted, fatigued, aggressive and impaired motorists traveling through our work zones. Not only are these motorists hazardous to our crews with boots on the ground, but they also pose a danger to other motorists. 

While we work to protect our employees, co-workers and the motoring public, we must also keep in mind that motor vehicle accidents in work zones are expensive and that carrying the proper insurance can be the difference between the longevity of a business and the shuttering of its doors.  

WASHINGTON – House Transportation & Infrastructure Chair Sam Graves commended ATSSA members on Tuesday for investing the time to take their roadway safety insights to Capitol Hill to share with legislators.

“These are very important,” he said of Fly-Ins. “When constituents come talk to members of Congress, it makes a difference.”

Graves (R-MO) was one of four public officials who spoke on the first day of the two-day Legislative Briefing & Fly-In. ATSSA members also heard from Rep. Chris Pappas (D-NH), Rep. Marc Molinaro (R-NY) and National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) Chair Jennifer Homendy.

PHOENIX (Feb. 19, 2023) – The American Traffic Safety Services Association awarded Peter Speer of Pexco with the Industry Achievement Award today during ATSSA’s Annual Convention & Traffic Expo taking place in Phoenix through Tuesday.

The Association also announced Neil Boudreau of the Massachusetts Department of Transportation as recipient of the National Safety Award and Jerry Britt, a PPG consultant, as recipient of the Mark of Excellence Award.

The Industry Achievement Award is the highest honor bestowed by ATSSA and is given to a member deemed worthy of special recognition. It honors members who have made significant contributions to ATSSA and left a mark on the roadway safety infrastructure industry.

The National Safety Award recognizes an employee or recent retiree of a government agency who made a significant contribution to the safety of our nation’s highways.

The Mark of Excellence Award is given to an ATSSA member who has made outstanding contributions to the advancement of roadway safety infrastructure through improved pavement markings.

Helping achieve the industry goal of zero deaths on the nation’s roadways involves educating a range of groups from prospective partners to the general public.

Register now for the fifth and final session of ATSSA’s free Worker Safety Webinar series to gain skills to help you present your case. The Dec. 6 webinar starts at 2 p.m.

“Sharing Safety: Marketing and Partnerships to Create Safer Streets” will be led by Alex Kelly, CEO of SALT and Company, and a member of ATSSA’s Roadway Worker Protection Council. Participants will learn how to tell compelling stories about the work they are doing and leverage partnerships to increase awareness of roadway workers and the work they are doing and goals they seek to achieve. 

If the thought of negotiating a contract is intimidating, ATSSA’s free webinar on Nov. 8 can relieve that anxiety and provide tools to empower you.

“Leveling The Playing Field for Contractual Liability” will include a panel discussion and time for questions. Register now for the 1-hour webinar starting at 2 p.m. ET.

ATSSA members have either been unaware of or lacked confidence in their ability to negotiate changes to a contract. This has placed ATSSA members in a tenuous position, risking the solvency of their businesses and leading to significant increases in insurance costs.

The webinar panel includes perspectives from an attorney, an ATSSA contractor, an insurance expert, a risk manager and someone experienced in indemnification and waivers.

Nominations are now open for the National Safety Award with ATSSA’s other annual awards opening for nominations soon.

The National Safety Award recognizes an employee or recent retiree of a government agency who made a significant contribution to the safety of our nation’s roadways. Nomination forms are due by July 31.

Nominations for the Industry Achievement Award and National Media Award open in August.

Changes are coming for the Mark of Excellence Award, which recognizes an ATSSA member who has made outstanding contributions to the advancement of roadway safety infrastructure through improved pavement markings.

Nomination forms for all awards are available on ATSSA’s Member and Industry Awards page.

ATSSA’s 53rd Annual Convention & Traffic Expo will bring roadway safety experts and innovators from across the nation and the world to Phoenix, Feb. 17-21.

This five-day event will once again be the site of the largest gathering of the roadway safety infrastructure industry in North America and feature information on the latest advances, provide a look at the latest innovative products, offer dozens of education sessions and access to countless experts from all facets of the industry.

The event will also include a massive display of devices to keep roadway workers and the motoring public safe, all situated on the 226,300-square-foot Traffic Expo floor inside the Phoenix Convention Center.

The ATSS Foundation will hold its popular golf and sporting clays events, plus there will be additional opportunities for networking through special events for groups such as the Young Industry Professionals.

Join roadway safety professionals for ATSSA’s Midyear Meeting to help shape policies and initiatives for the roadway safety infrastructure industry for the coming year.

Network with more than 350 industry professionals from across the country who are gathering in Providence, R.I., to further innovation and infrastructure for roadway safety, Aug. 23-26.

The meeting is tailored to national committee members and friends to learn, network and build leadership skills.

“These meetings are critical to the work of our Association,” said ATSSA President & CEO Stacy Tetschner. “We lay the groundwork for many efforts and innovations for advancing roadway safety at our committee and council meetings. We were pleased by last year’s record-breaking attendance of 381 and hope to exceed that this year as we work to develop roadway safety plans that utilize the funding approved in the Infrastructure Investment & Jobs Act.”

Four new people have been elected to ATSSA’s Board of Directors for terms that run through 2024. Two others were reelected for a second term.

Michael Hare of QWICK KURB was voted chair-elect. Cindy Williams of Time Striping Inc. was voted to the board as an at-large member.

Robert Voccia of Cosco Inc. was elected as guardrail services director.

Former ATSS Foundation Chair David Krahulec of Horizon Signal Technologies was elected as manufacturers and suppliers director.