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American Traffic Safety Services Association
ATSSA MEMBER COMPANY &
PUBLIC AGENCY NEWS
Start Planning for National Work Zone Awareness Week 2017
Maryland will host the national kick-off event and press conference
for National Work Zone Awareness Week (NWZAW) 2017 on
April 4.* An annual spring campaign held at the beginning of
construction season to encourage safe driving through roadway
work zones, the key message is for drivers to use extra caution in
work zones.
With virtually every state across the nation participating in
NWZAW, the media has focused on the emphasis of safe driving in
roadway work zones in every niche of the country. ATSSA member
companies and public agencies have worked with local legislators,
policemen and the media to orchestrate events, press conferences,
memorial services and mock work zone crash displays—all in an
effort to stress roadway work zone safety in communities.
To host an event for NWZAW, the planning should begin several
months in advance to ensure guests, speakers and other attendees
have ample time to include it on their calendars and prepare for the
event. With the NWZAW 2016 theme, “Don’t Be THAT Driver!:
Work on Safety. Get Home Safely. Every Day,” the following
NWZAW campaigns were created by ATSSA member companies,
public agencies and chapters last year. They may provide ideas and
inspiration in planning your event for NWZAW 2017.
•
The Ohio Department of Transportation hosted the NWZAW
2016 kick-off event in Perrysburg, Ohio, April 12. More than
200 attendees paid tribute to individuals who were killed in
roadway work zones. The Ohio State Highway Patrol Color
Guard presented the state’s flags to three families who lost
loved ones in work zone crashes in the state. Names of fallen
roadway workers were added to The Foundation’s National
Work Zone Memorial.
•
Arizona ATSSA Chapter members were instrumental in
placing roadway safety messages on the state’s highways to
remind drivers about NWZAW.
•
The New Mexico ATSSA Chapter held a roadway safety poster
contest for elementary school students. Police and school
officials attended the awards ceremony to help educate the
“drivers of tomorrow” about safe driving in roadway work
zones.
•
New Mexico Governor Susanna Martinez spoke about the
importance of safety in work zones at a press conference. New
Mexico ATSSA Chapter members wore bright, yellow safety
vests to represent the roadway safety industry.
•
Representatives from the Indiana ATSSA Chapter, Indiana
Department of Transportation, Occupational Safety and Health
Administration, Indiana State Police and Work Zone
Corporation combined efforts for an unforgettable press
conference. (See story, “Indiana Groups Created Memorable
National Work Zone Awareness Week 2016 Press
Conference,” below.)
If your ATSSA company or public agency has held NWZAW events
and would like to be featured in an upcoming issue of
The Signal
,
. In the subject line, include
“NWZAW Events.”
*The location of the NWZAW kick-off event in Maryland has not been
announced yet. Read ATSSA’s
The Signal
and
The Flash
for updates on
NWZAW.
Indiana Groups Created Memorable National Work Zone
Awareness Week 2016 Press Conference
When a police officer arrested and handcuffed a driver who was distracted in a roadway
work zone, the serious scene caught the attention of attendees and media at a National
Work Zone Awareness Week press conference at North Street at the Indiana War
Memorial in Indianapolis, Ind., April 14. Fortunately, the scene was a mock display of
what could happen when motorists don’t drive carefully through roadway work zones,
but it was enough to make onlookers stop and pay attention to the message.
“The media exposure as a result of the press conference was extremely effective in
reaching audiences statewide,” said Indiana ATSSA Chapter Immediate Past President
Rick Smith, of Roadsafe. “We’re confident we brought awareness to the motoring
public to use extra caution in work zones and avoid distracted driving.”
Representatives from the Indiana ATSSA Chapter, Indiana Department of
Transportation, Occupational Safety and Health Administration, Indiana State Police
and Work Zone Awareness Corporation—a group of prime contractors dedicated to
work zone safety—combined efforts to encourage motorists to focus on distraction-
free driving.
A police officer handcuffs a distracted driver during
a mock motor vehicle crash scene at a National
Work Zone Awareness Week press conference in
Indianapolis, Ind., Apr. 14. Media attention from the
event reached audiences statewide, encouraging
motorists to drive safely in roadway work zones.