Latest updates
Supreme Court blocks vaccine mandate for large employers
The Supreme Court today issued a ruling blocking a Biden administration effort to require employees of large employers to get a COVID-19 vaccine or undergo weekly testing and wear a mask. The court, however, allowed a vaccine mandate for most U.S. health care workers. The court ruled 6-3 in the employer case, which applies to organizations with at least 100 employees. The Supreme Court today issued a ruling blocking a Biden administration effort to require employees of large employers to get a COVID-19 vaccine or undergo weekly testing and wear a mask. The court, however, allowed a vaccine mandate for most U.S. health care workers. The court ruled 6-3 in the employer case. The court’s conservative majority concluded the administration overstepped its authority by seeking to impose the Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s vaccine-or-test rule on U.S. businesses with at least 100 employees, the Associated Press reported. More than 80 million people would have been affected. “OSHA has never before imposed such a mandate. Nor has Congress. Indeed, although Congress has enacted significant legislation addressing the COVID–19 pandemic, it has declined to enact any measure similar to what OSHA has promulgated here,” the conservatives wrote in an unsigned opinion. The court’s three liberals argued that it was the court that was overreaching by substituting its judgments for health experts, according to the AP report. The Supreme Court ruling is a temporary measure while other cases proceed. However, the court wrote that “the applicants are likely to prevail” and therefore granted emergency relief from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration OSHA rule regarding vaccines for large employers. “Many States, businesses, and nonprofit organizations challenged OSHA’s rule in Courts of Appeals across the country. The Fifth Circuit initially entered a stay. But when the cases were consolidated before the Sixth Circuit, that court lifted the stay and allowed OSHA’s rule to take effect,” the ruling states. “Applicants now seek emergency relief from this Court, arguing that OSHA’s mandate exceeds its statutory authority and is otherwise unlawful. Agreeing that applicants are likely to prevail, we grant their applications and stay the rule.” The court reviewed OSHA’s role as protecting employees from work-related dangers and said COVID-19 does not fall into that category but is a day-to-day danger that everyone faces such as from crime, air pollution or other communicable diseases. “Permitting OSHA to regulate the hazards of daily life—simply because most Americans have jobs and face those same risks while on the clock—would significantly expand OSHA’s regulatory authority without clear congressional authorization,” the majority wrote in the ruling.
Get tips for hosting an NWZAW event
If you’ve ever wanted to host an event during National Work Zone Awareness Week NWZAW or considered hosting the national kickoff, ATSSA’s Jan. 25 webinar is the resource you need. Registration is now open for "Tools and Tips for Holding a NWZAW Event" set for Tuesday, Jan. 25, 2-3 p.m. ET. ATSSA COO & CFO Mitzi Osterhout will serve as moderator with several panelists offering insights on holding an event. If you’ve ever wanted to host an event during National Work Zone Awareness Week NWZAW or considered hosting the national kickoff, ATSSA’s Jan. 25 webinar is the resource you need. WHAT: Tools and Tips for Holding a NWZAW Event webinar WHEN: Tuesday, Jan. 25, 2-3 p.m. ET REGISTRATION: Free and now open. “Tools and Tips for Holding a NWZAW Event” will be moderated by ATSSA COO & CFO Mitzi Osterhout and include the following panelists: Chuck Bergman, Work Zone Technician, Michigan Department of Transportation MDOT, 2020 and 2021 host agency A representative from the California Department of Transportation Caltrans Rick Smith, Estimator, RoadSafe Traffic Systems, Lafayette, Ind. Greg Webb, New Mexico ATSSA Chapter President and owner of Globosocks LLC, Albuquerque, N.M. Lori Diaz, Director, The American Traffic Safety Services Foundation NWZAW is a national event held each spring to focus on roadway work zone safety. The national kickoff event is hosted by a selected state department of transportation DOT and focuses on the safety of roadway workers and the importance of staying alert to work zones. This year’s event is April 11-15 and hosted by the Virginia Department of Transportation VDOT with the theme of “Work Zones are a Sign to Slow Down.” The week features a special event each day: Monday, April 11 — Work Zone Safety Training Day Tuesday, April 12 — National kickoff event Wednesday, April 13 — Go Orange Day Thursday, April 14 — Social media storm Friday, April 15 — Moment of Silence. This is new for 2022 and remembers the people who lost their lives in a work zone incident. Join us for the Jan. 25 webinar and learn how you can hold a successful NWZAW event and the resources available to help you amplify the important message of work zone safety. If you aren’t available on Jan. 25, the webinar will be recorded and available for viewing afterward.
ATSSA & TRB announce winners of 2022 TCD Student Challenge
FREDERICKSBURG, Va. Jan. 10, 2022 – The American Traffic Safety Services Association ATSSA, in partnership with the National Academy of Sciences Transportation Research Board TRB, announces the winners of the 2022 Traffic Control Device TCD Student Challenge. Engineering students from across the U.S. competed in the TCD Student Challenge, which was titled, “Innovative Traffic Control Device Strategies for Speed Management on Limited Access Freeways.” The team from Michigan State University received the first place award with a project entitled, “Active traffic management using combined dynamic speed limit display and speed feedback sign.” FREDERICKSBURG, Va. Jan. 10, 2022 – The American Traffic Safety Services Association ATSSA, in partnership with the National Academy of Sciences Transportation Research Board TRB, announces the winners of the 2022 Traffic Control Device TCD Student Challenge. Engineering students from across the U.S. competed in the TCD Student Challenge, which was titled, “Innovative Traffic Control Device Strategies for Speed Management on Limited Access Freeways.” The team from Michigan State University received the first place award with a project entitled, “Active traffic management using combined dynamic speed limit display and speed feedback sign.” The team from Michigan State included, from left, Emma C. Hagel, team leader Nischal Gupta, Md Shakir Mahmud and Anshu Bamney. Team member Nusayba Megat Johari was not available for the photo. The second place award went to a team from Florida International University with a project entitled, “Radar speed detection for speed management on limited access facilities.” That team included team leader John H. Kodi pictured and members Francisca P. Kasubi and Abdallah N. Kinero. “It is always fun to interact with students and see their talents come together to brainstorm ways to solve real world problems,” said ATSSA Director of Innovation & Technical Services Eric Perry. “Speeding is a significant contributor to crashes in work zones that lead to fatalities, so seeing some new ideas to help solve these problems is great.” The TCD Student Challenge is open to high school, junior college, college and university students or teams of students who have an interest in transportation and an understanding of traffic control devices. Students in relevant fields such as transportation, human factors and technology- related curricula are particularly encouraged to participate. Entries are judged on the ability of the idea to address the problem, applicability of the idea and its transferability to various environments and roadways, and feasibility of implementation. The two winning teams were chosen today during the TRB Annual Meeting in Washington, D.C. Both teams receive a cash prize $1,500 for first place and $1,000 for second place and the opportunity to present their submissions to members of the roadway safety infrastructure industry at ATSSA’s 52nd Annual Convention & Traffic Expo in Tampa, Florida, Feb. 11-15. The following six teams also competed in the 2022 challenge. Auburn University, Fangjian Yang, team leader, Han Luo, teammate, “Novel freeway terminal speed management strategy.” Auburn University, Beijia Zhang, team leader, Qing Chang, Yukun Song and Anthony Aspito, teammates, “Speed management system to alleviate freeway bottlenecks near the weave zones.” Oregon State University, Eileen Pei Ying Chai, team leader, Amy Wyman, Joseph Neils and Helena Breuer, teammates, “Connected speeding detection communication system.” Penn State University, Agnimitra Sengupta, team leader, and Asif Mahmud, teammate, “Driving feedback mechanism using crash likelihood as a measure of speed management in freeway.” Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and Monash University, Abdelrahman Ismael, team leader, Carlos Rivera-Gonzalez and Jennifer Rivera-Gonzalez, teammates, “Speed management as a long-term behavior change strategy.” Westminster Schools, Evan Le, “Leverage variable speed limit signs for freeway speed management.”
Upcoming Events
2026 Convention & Traffic Expo
Where Roadway Safety + Innovation Intersect. ATSSA’s 56th Annual Convention & Traffic Expo is Feb. 20-24, 2026, in Houston, Texas. Join key roadway safety and transportation professionals at this premier event.
Legislative Briefing & Fly-In 2026
ATSSA’s 2026 Legislative Briefing & Fly-In is April 14-15, in Washington, D.C.
TOOLS & RESOURCES
Easily find content, tools or products in the Resource Library. Search industry, legal and volunteer resources; products, toolkits and publications for industry professionals, past webinars and more. Get the ATSSA Worker Protection Toolkit for resources on incident response and prevention.
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Innovation and Technical Services
ATSSA is dedicated to being a reliable and accurate source of innovative technology information for all members. As the industry moves towards an automated and more technologically advanced future, prepare and learn from best practices and resources related to traffic safety topics and technical services.
National Work Zone Awareness Week
Show your support of work zone safety awareness by participating in NWZAW 2026, April 20-24, with ATSSA and host Connecticut Department of Transportation (CTDOT).
ATSSA's Core purpose is to advance roadway safety
ATSSA members embrace the goal of eliminating roadway fatalities through the design, manufacture and installation of road safety and traffic control devices. For more than 50 years, ATSSA’s training has been recognized as the highest quality roadway safety training program available. Get top training for your team.