The names of 10 men who were killed while working in a roadway work zone have been added to the National Work Zone Memorial.

Their deaths took place as long ago as March of 1966 and as recently as November 2021. Each man had reported for another day of work when tragedy struck, leaving behind wives, sons, daughters and parents to grieve.

The addition of these 10 men for 2022 brings the total number of lives honored on the National Work Zone Memorial to 1,602.

Traffic fatalities increased 12% for the first nine months of 2021 compared to the same period in 2020, marking the biggest percentage increase in the history of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) fatality reporting process, which projects fatality data.

The Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS) provides statistical projections for traffic fatalities nationwide, looking at the first nine months of the year in this report that provides an early estimate of motor vehicle traffic fatalities.

The 12% increase is based on an estimated 31,720 people killed in motor vehicle crashes nationwide in the first nine months of 2021 compared to 28,325 killed in the first nine months of 2020. That is the highest number of fatalities for nine months since 2006.

The National Roadway Safety Strategy (NRSS) unveiled by the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) on Thursday focuses on moving the U.S. towards zero roadway deaths by taking a safe systems approach that includes six central themes.

The themes laid out are that: deaths and serious injuries are unacceptable; human mistakes are inevitable; humans are vulnerable to injury and death; there is a shared responsibility for these incidents; safety can be and should be proactive; and redundancy is critical. The strategy introduced by Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg also focuses on five safety issues.

“ATSSA applauds Secretary Buttigieg on the release of the first National Roadway Safety Strategy, especially with its call for the enhanced protection of roadway construction workers," ATSSA President & CEO Stacy Tetschner said. "Shining a brighter spotlight on the need to dramatically reduce roadway fatalities is critically necessary.”

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is withdrawing its vaccination and testing emergency temporary standard, effective Wednesday.

The move follows a Jan. 13 ruling by the Supreme Court 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 ruled 6-3 in the employer case with the court’s conservative majority concluding the administration overstepped its authority by seeking to impose the OSHA vaccine-or-test rule on U.S. businesses with at least 100 employees. More than 80 million people would have been affected.

FREDERICKSBURG, Va. (Jan. 25, 2022) – The American Traffic Safety Services Association  selected 14 companies to participate in its 2022 New Products Rollout (NPRO), held in conjunction with the 52nd Annual Convention & Traffic Expo taking place Feb. 11-15 at the Tampa (Florida) Convention Center.

Each year, more than 3,500 people attend the largest roadway safety tradeshow in North America to see some of the latest innovations in the roadway safety infrastructure industry. The products submitted as part of NPRO are comprised of a wide range of devices designed to save lives on our nation’s roadways.

“The 2022 lineup for ATSSA’s New Products Rollout features products that provide a snapshot of some of the latest advancements made in the past year,” said ATSSA Director of Innovation & Technical Services Eric Perry. “I love this event because it provides a great opportunity to hear firsthand from our members about the latest and greatest products coming to the marketplace as well as the benefits of using them.”

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.

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.

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.”

A work zone tragedy shouldn’t mean the end of the dreams and aspirations for the worker’s children or spouse.

Roadway Worker Memorial Scholarships, offered by The American Traffic Safety Services (ATSS) Foundation, can help put the worker’s dependents on the road to a brilliant future.

Applications for the 2022-23 academic year are due by Feb. 15.

The Roadway Worker Memorial Scholarship Program provides financial assistance for post-high school education to the children or spouse of a roadway worker killed or permanently disabled in a work zone incident. Applicants who demonstrate a strong commitment to volunteerism may be eligible to receive an additional $1,000 in honor of Chuck Bailey, an esteemed member of the roadway safety industry from Ohio who died in 2002 as a result of an accident.

ATSSA’s 52^nd Annual Convention & Traffic Expo officially launches two new association councils—the Roadway Worker Protection Council and Women in Roadway Safety Council.

The Roadway Worker Protection Council evolved from the Roadway Worker Protection Summit held as part of ATSSA’s 2021 Annual Convention & Traffic Expo.

Members who lost an employee as a result of a work zone incident recognized the value of creating resources to help guide others through the process if a tragedy befalls their company. They also recognized the need for greater focus on creating a culture of safety to prevent injuries and deaths.

The Women in Roadway Safety Council held an organizational meeting at ATSSA’s Midyear Meeting in August. ATSSA President & CEO Stacy Tetschner originated the idea for that council with the aim of formalizing a way for women to network, learn from one another and develop leadership skills in the male-dominated roadway worker infrastructure industry.