MUTCD gets prominent attention at ATSSA Convention

MUTCD gets prominent attention at ATSSA Convention

Innovations, education and groundbreaking speakers await in San Diego

Roadway safety industry members eager to dissect the recently released version of the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD) will get multiple opportunities during ATSSA’s 2024 Annual Convention & Traffic Expo in San Diego, Feb. 2-6.

The 11^th edition of the MUTCD, released in December, covers some 1,100 pages, serves as the national standard for traffic signs, signals and pavement markings, and is used daily by members of the roadway safety industry.

With this as a prominent subject for the industry, ATSSA organized five sessions over three days devoted to discussing multiple parts of the MUTCD. National Committee on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (NCUTCD) Chair Gene Hawkins will participate as will other NCUTCD leadership.

The first session on Feb. 4 will address the general section of the MUTCD and the section on connected and automated vehicles (CAVs). On Feb. 5, separate sessions will be held to discuss Markings and Temporary Traffic Control. The final session on Feb. 6 will address Signs.

Attendees at this year’s Convention will have 41 opportunities to attend education sessions led by subject matter experts in fields as diverse as courtroom testimony, connected work zone standards, legislative advocacy, pavement marking retroreflectivity and designing safer roads.

They also will have the opportunity to explore nearly 250,000 square feet of exhibits displaying the latest innovations for advancing roadway safety and enhancing roadway safety infrastructure.

Displays will include the 18 items entered in the New Products Rollout, 16 of which are vying for an Innovation Award and have a video to enhance understanding of its benefits for roadway and worker safety.

The Convention & Traffic Expo officially kicks off with the opening general session on Feb. 4 featuring keynote Carey Lohrenz, the Navy’s first female fighter pilot for the F-14 Tomcat. She will draw on that experience as she discusses, “High Risk Into High Reward: Succeeding in High Pressure Environments.”

On Feb. 5, ATSSA hosts National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) Chair Jennifer Homendy and former Rep. Rodney Davis of Illinois for a Government & Legislative Insights Forum.

The Circle of Innovation on Feb. 6 is one of the premier events of the Convention each year. It will feature the winner of this year’s Innovation Award and include a panel on artificial intelligence. It also will include presentations by Bill Lambert of the New Hampshire Department of Transportation (NHDOT), Mike Mollenhauer of the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute and Darcy Bullock of Purdue University.

While attending the Convention, people can register for this year’s Legislative Briefing & Fly-In, scheduled for April 23-24 in the nation’s capital. Day one of this annual event — which is a free, exclusive member benefit — is a briefing with guest speakers that prepares ATSSA members to campaign for roadway safety the next day as they visit the offices of their senators and representatives.

Downloading the Traffic Expo 2024 app is a great way to navigate the event and set your agenda for each day and has the added benefit of automatically getting entered for a chance to win a drawing for ATSSA goodies displaying the new Association logo.

Last year’s Convention & Traffic Expo brought together more than 3,700 roadway safety industry professionals and more than 217 exhibitors at the largest exposition of its kind in North America. This year’s registrations suggest a bigger crowd and even more exhibitors.

Registration is still open.