Honor roadway colleagues by submitting names for the National Work Zone Memorial

The Memorial honors lives lost as a result of work zone incidents

The pandemic kept countless people off the roads but that didn’t mean roadway workers were safer. In fact, reports from across the country showed many of the drivers out during that time took the opportunity to accelerate with some traveling in excess of 100 mph.

That put roadway workers, who were still on the job, at greater danger and some paid the ultimate price.

The American Traffic Safety Services (ATSS) Foundation honors the men and women killed in roadway work zone incidents by including their names on the National Work Zone Memorial. The list of names is updated each year with the submissions  received by Dec. 1.

“We grieve every time we must add a name but, at the same time, we want every life lost due to a work zone incident remembered forever,” said Foundation Director Lori Diaz. “This is one way of honoring them and reinforcing the importance of work zone safety.”

The National Work Zone Memorial–Respect and Remembrance: Reflections of Life on the Road is a traveling memorial, inscribed with more than 1,500 names. It honors each person who was killed, including work zone workers, motorists, pedestrians, law enforcement officers, public safety officials (i.e., firefighters and paramedics), and even children. The Foundation also now has a virtual National Work Zone Memorial.

The Memorial informs the public about the rising number of work zone related deaths as the Foundation and Association continue working Toward Zero Deaths on our roadways. It also reminds the motoring public about the need to slow their vehicles and stay alert when approaching and passing through work zones.

The Foundation relies on individuals, industry organizations and departments of transportation (DOTs) to gather the names of the men, women and children who lost their lives in work zone incidents. Details are available within the Name Submission Form due by Dec. 1.

Volunteers are welcome to help gather names.

1. Reach out to your state government or work with your local ATSSA chapter for information on individuals who died in a work zone incident.
2. Contact the company that employed the person and encourage them to honor the person by submitting the name.
3. Help the company or family by gathering the information needed to submit the “Name Submission Form.”

“Let’s all do our part to move Toward Zero Deaths by paying attention as we approach and travel through work zones,” Diaz said.