The ATSS Foundation's annual Fun Run saw increased participation for its third straight year. The Foundation Fun Run started in 2020 as part of ATSSA’s 50th anniversary celebration in New Orleans during ATSSA’s Annual Convention & Traffic Expo. That year’s event covered 2 miles and took place on a downtown path overlooking the Mississippi River. The event has evolved since then as a great group activity for ATSSA member companies, families or friends, or for individuals, all of whom can take part anywhere across the country – or the world. Participants have the option of a 5K Fun Run or the 33-mile Roadway Safety Challenge, both of which can be run or walked. The ATSS Foundation's annual Fun Run saw increased participation for its third straight year. The Foundation Fun Run started in 2020 as part of ATSSA’s 50th anniversary celebration in New Orleans during ATSSA’s Annual Convention & Traffic Expo. That year’s event covered 2 miles and took place on a downtown path overlooking the Mississippi River. The event has evolved since then as a great group activity for ATSSA member companies, families or friends, or for individuals, all of whom can take part anywhere across the country – or the world. Participants have the option of a 5K Fun Run or the 33-mile Roadway Safety Challenge, both of which can be run or walked. Registrants for this year’s Third Annual Foundation Fun Run numbered 144, up from 124 in 2021. The inaugural Fun Run included 36 participants. Some of this year’s runners provided photos and data from their runs. The 2022 event was held May 14-29, with runners and walkers able to complete their event within that timeframe. People choosing the 33-mile distance can complete it over multiple days. This virtual event benefits The Foundation’s charitable programs such as academic scholarships, the National Work Zone Memorial and youth programs. “This Fun Run offers a great opportunity for our members to engage in team building and a healthy activity while supporting The ATSS Foundation. To me, that’s definitely a win-win,” Foundation Director Lori Diaz said. “I enjoy participating with co-workers at ATSSA headquarters and look forward to next year’s event.”
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People like to make their mark in this world and often seek ways to leave a long-term legacy. Those lofty goals can seem elusive but are easy to achieve through The ATSS Foundation Planned Giving program. “By making The Foundation part of long-term financial planning, supporters can know they are making a difference beyond their lifetimes,” Foundation Director Lori Diaz said. Planned giving can be set up in multiple ways in consultation with a financial advisor or estate planner. People like to make their mark in this world and often seek ways to leave a long-term legacy. Those lofty goals can seem elusive but are easy to achieve through The ATSS Foundation Planned Giving program. “By making The Foundation part of long-term financial planning, supporters can know they are making a difference beyond their lifetimes,” Foundation Director Lori Diaz said. The ATSS Foundation’s core purpose is to promote roadway safety through charitable giving and public awareness programs. One of its many programs is the Roadway Worker Memorial Scholarship, which helps the children and spouses of roadway workers killed or permanently disabled in a work zone incident pursue their dreams. Planned giving can be set up in multiple ways in consultation with a financial advisor or estate planner. Options include making a bequest in a will—such as specifying a dollar amount for The ATSS Foundation, designating a percentage of the estate or giving the remaining value once bequests to loved ones have been met. Another option is listing The ATSS Foundation as a beneficiary of a retirement plan, life insurance policy or Individual Retirement Account IRA. People also can simply donate to The ATSS Foundation—either in general or with the funds specified for a specific program. Establishing a financial investment in The Foundation through planned giving provides a way to: Provide academic scholarships for loved ones of fallen or permanently disabled roadway workers until work zone deaths are eliminated. Honor those who died in work zones, including work zone workers, motorists, pedestrians, law enforcement officers, firefighters, paramedics and children through supporting the National Work Zone Memorial. Give children the opportunity to work through the grief of losing a loved one alongside other children dealing with a similar situation through Experience Camps Travel Scholarships. Support the education of new public agency engineers who specialize in work zone safety and temporary traffic control through the Marty Weed Engineering Scholarship. Educate the next generation of drivers through youth programs like the work zone educational activity book and a new teen driver education course. The Foundation Legacy Circle was established to recognize individuals who make a commitment to the Foundation through their estate planning. Individuals are urged to notify The Foundation of their long-term plans by completing the gift intention form even if they prefer to not be recognized publicly. “We are thankful for the generosity of the individuals who have already chosen to become Legacy Circle members and have assured their lives will have a lasting impact. We welcome others with questions to contact us,” Diaz said. “The best way to establish a gift, however, is in consultation with a financial planner.” For more information, foundation@atssa.com.
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FREDERICKSBURG, Va. March 31, 2022 – The transportation industry is taking increasing steps to improve the timeliness of information about active work zones but even before those measures are available nationwide, work zone warnings are important for everyone to heed to get home safely. This year’s National Work Zone Awareness Week is April 11-15 with the theme: “Work Zones are a Sign to Slow Down.” National Work Zone Awareness Week NWZAW, in its 22nd year, is a national public awareness campaign held annually at the start of the spring construction season. It spreads the message that we are all responsible for work zone safety. UPDATE: The livestream of the national kickoff event can be viewed here at 1:30 p.m. ET on April 12. FREDERICKSBURG, Va. March 31, 2022 – The transportation industry is taking increasing steps to improve the timeliness of information about active work zones but even before those measures are available nationwide, work zone warnings are important for everyone to heed to get home safely. This year’s National Work Zone Awareness Week is April 11-15 with the theme: “Work Zones are a Sign to Slow Down.” National Work Zone Awareness Week NWZAW, in its 22nd year, is a national public awareness campaign held annually at the start of the spring construction season. It spreads the message that we are all responsible for work zone safety. Statistics from the National Work Zone Safety Information Clearinghouse show the vast majority of people killed in work zones are motorists, passengers and pedestrians. The most recent statistics show there were 762 fatal crashes in work zones resulting in 842 deaths in 2019. Of those killed, 135 were roadway workers. “National Work Zone Awareness Week was established with roadway workers in mind, but the statistics make it abundantly clear that everyone is at risk in work zones,” ATSSA President & CEO Stacy Tetschner said. “The goal of this week is for motorists to slow when approaching and passing through roadway work zones so everyone makes it home safely.” Statistics for 2019 estimate there were 115,000 work zone crashes—27,000 of which were injury-involved crashes resulting in 39,000 injuries—underscoring the need to observe work zone speed limits and eliminate distractions when approaching and driving through work zones. This year’s National Kickoff Event is scheduled for Tuesday, April 12 and is hosted by the Virginia Department of Transportation VDOT. It will be held at 1:30 p.m. EDT at the Fort Monroe Continental Gazebo, 4 Fenwick Road, Hampton, Va. 23651, which overlooks the Hampton Roads Bridge Tunnel Project. In case of rain, the event will move indoors to the Fort Monroe Theater, located a few blocks from the gazebo. The event will also be streamed live. Watch for details for the livestream at NWZAW.org/participate or the ATSSA blog. Cameron Hutt of Cleveland, Tenn., a college student whose father was killed in a work zone incident in 2006, is scheduled to speak at the National Kickoff Event. Cameron is a senior studying communications at the University of Tennessee and the recipient of a Roadway Worker Memorial Scholarship. Roadway Worker Memorial Scholarships are awarded through The American Traffic Safety Services ATSS Foundation, the charitable arm of ATSSA. The ATSS Foundation awards scholarships to the dependents of roadway workers killed or permanently disabled in work zone incidents. The scholarships are competitive and have a value up to $10,000 with an additional $1,000 possible for students with a strong commitment to volunteerism. NWZAW got its start in 1997 when a group of VDOT employees in southwestern Virginia wanted to dedicate a week to raise awareness of work zone safety among all district employees ahead of the busy roadway work season. The next year, VDOT presented the idea for a national awareness campaign to the American Traffic Safety Services Association ATSSA, which, in turn, approached the Federal Highway Administration FHWA and the American Association of State Highway Transportation Officials AASHTO. The groups finalized plans and launched the first national kickoff event in 2000. NWZAW now includes a theme for each day. April 11 – Work Zone Safety Training Day in which companies are encouraged to pause during the workday for safety demonstrations, discussions about safety policies and other prevention steps to protect people in work zones. April 12 – National Kickoff Event as described above. In addition, departments of transportation across the country and private companies organize events in their locations. April 13 – Go Orange Day when everyone is encouraged to wear orange to show support for work zone safety and the families of victims who have lost their lives in work zones. Photos can be posted on social media with #NWZAW and #Orange4Safety. April 14 – Social media storm in which organizations, companies, agencies and individuals are encouraged to share messages and use hashtags #NWZAW and #WorkZoneSafety throughout social media between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. EDT. April 15 – Moment of Silence. People are encouraged to take part in this new event for 2022 to remember the people who lost their lives in a work zone incident. For additional information about NWZAW and its history, check NWZAW.org. The following public service announcements are available for use by the media: “Work zones are a sign to slow down.” That’s the theme of this year’s National Work Zone Awareness Week, set for April 11-15. 762 fatal crashes occurred in work zones in 2019, killing 135 roadway workers. Join us in raising awareness of the importance of slowing your vehicle and staying alert as you approach and pass by a work zone. For more information, visit NWZAW.org. Each year, hundreds of people are killed in roadway work zones. Most of them are the drivers and their passengers trying to travel through the work zone. That means it’s critical for everyone to pay attention. “Work zones are a sign to slow down.” That’s the theme of this year’s National Work Zone Awareness Week, scheduled for April 11-15. For more information, visit NWZAW.org. “Work zones are a sign to slow down.” Work zone crashes killed 842 people in 2019, including 135 roadway workers. Most of the people killed were drivers and their passengers. So slow down and stay alert as you approach and pass by a work zone. Help spread the word during National Work Zone Awareness Week, April 11-15. For more information, visit NWZAW.org. Additional hashtags for NWZAW include: #NWZAW #SafeWorkZonesForAll #WorkZoneSafety #StandDown4Safety #SaferRoadsSaveLives #GoOrange4Safety
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3M raised $15,279 this year for The ATSS Foundation through its Toward Zero Deaths pledge wall. The fundraiser ran from Jan. 1 through the final day of ATSSA’s 52nd Annual Convention & Traffic Expo. “As the new ATSS Foundation Chair, I can't express enough how grateful I am for support from companies like 3M that share the vision with us to help families that have experienced such horrific work zone tragedies,” said Kevin Shelton. “3M’s yearslong commitment to hosting the pledge wall is a testament to its compassion for the families that have lost a loved one or had one permanently disabled by a work zone incident. It is also a testament to 3M’s commitment to working toward the goal of zero deaths on the nation’s roadways.” 3M raised $15,279 this year for The ATSS Foundation through its Toward Zero Deaths pledge wall. The fundraiser ran from Jan. 1 through the final day of ATSSA’s 52nd Annual Convention & Traffic Expo. The company offered to match donations up to $5,000. Most of the funds raised came in during the Convention. “As the new ATSS Foundation Chair, I can't express enough how grateful I am for support from companies like 3M that share the vision with us to help families that have experienced such horrific work zone tragedies,” said Kevin Shelton. “3M’s yearslong commitment to hosting the pledge wall is a testament to its compassion for the families that have lost a loved one or had one permanently disabled by a work zone incident. It is also a testament to 3M’s commitment to working toward the goal of zero deaths on the nation’s roadways.” This is the seventh consecutive year Minnesota-based 3M has partnered with The Foundation by operating the pledge wall from the start of the year through the Convention & Traffic Expo. In 2021, 3M offered to match donations up to $5,000 but doubled it to bring the total raised to $23,042, making a significant difference for The Foundation in a year in which COVID-19 restrictions prevented it from holding its two largest yearly fundraisers—the Annual Golf Classic and the Sporting Clays Event.
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Hill & Smith of Columbus, Ohio, raised $28,000 for The ATSS Foundation through an auction held online Jan. 19 through Feb. 2. The company’s mission is to develop and produce safety-focused products and solutions to protect roadway workers and people traveling the nation’s roadways. That mission aligns with The Foundation’s core purpose to promote roadway safety through charitable giving and public awareness programs, which is why the company chose to hold the fundraiser. “We are grateful for Hill & Smith’s decision to hold the auction and donate this roadway safety item,” said Foundation Chair Kevin Shelton. Hill & Smith of Columbus, Ohio, raised $28,000 for The ATSS Foundation through an auction held online Jan. 19 through Feb. 2. Company officials presented The ATSS Foundation a check on Feb. 13 during ATSSA's 52nd Annual Convention & Traffic Expo in Tampa, Fla. The company’s mission is to develop and produce safety-focused products and solutions to protect roadway workers and people traveling the nation’s roadways. That mission aligns with The Foundation’s core purpose to promote roadway safety through charitable giving and public awareness programs, which is why the company chose to hold the fundraiser. “This auction is our way to continue to raise awareness to this important cause and raise funds for roadway worker families affected by tragic loss, all while working toward zero deaths,” Hill & Smith said in a statement explaining its decision to donate a complete Smart Cushion System for the auction. All proceeds from the auction go to The Foundation. ATSSA member D&M Traffic Services Inc., of Santa Clara, Calif., placed the winning bid for the Smart Cushion, which is a crash attenuator. “We are grateful for Hill & Smith’s decision to hold the auction and donate this roadway safety item,” said Foundation Chair Kevin Shelton, pictured above, second from left. “We are also grateful for D&M Traffic Services for participating and for making the winning bid. These funds will go a long way toward assisting The Foundation’s work in supporting the families of roadway workers killed or permanently disabled in work zone incidents. “We are thankful Hill & Smith chose to partner with The Foundation and for its commitment to our shared mission.” Hill & Smith Inc. designs, manufactures and markets products, services and software. It makes intelligent highway safety systems and develops autonomous solutions, primarily serving the infrastructure, galvanizing, building and construction industries.
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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. 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. Below are their names, the dates they died and the locations where they were working. Brandon Franklin Barber, Aug. 30, 2021, Jemison, Ala. Joshua Pittenturf Bishop, May 14, 2020, York, Pa. Vern Hedquist, Oct. 2, 2018, Rogers, Minn. Alexander Michael King, June 7, 2021, Hamilton, Ohio Alfred W. McLaughlin Sr., March 11, 1966, Virginia Beach, Va. James David Miracle, Sept. 8, 2021, Louisville, Ky. Frederick Ned O’Bannon Jr., Nov. 19, 2021, Louisville, Ky. Davyon Desmon-Aereailes Rose, Nov. 7, 2020, Romulus, Mich. Nicholas Andres Sada, Nov. 7, 2020, Romulus, Mich. Guillermo Solis Jr., Oct. 16, 2015, Ocoee, Fla. The addition of these 10 men for 2022 brings the total number of lives honored on the National Work Zone Memorial to 1,602. Names are added once a year. “The National Work Zone Memorial is a somber reminder of the dangers associated with work zones,” said ATSS Foundation Director Lori Diaz. “Our goal is to see the day when we won’t have more names to add. In the meantime, the Memorial honors the lives lost and provides a visual reminder of the importance of paying attention when approaching a work zone.” The National Work Zone Memorial – Respect and Remembrance: Reflections of Life on the Road” was unveiled 20 years ago and is a living tribute to the men, women and children killed as a result of a work zone incident. The Memorial travels to communities across the country to raise awareness of the need to respect and stay safe in America’s roadway work zones. The Memorial exists in two formats—a physical Memorial that is 20 feet wide and 7 feet tall and a virtual Memorial that can be viewed via computer. Both are available for display at events that seek to heighten attention to work zone safety. The traveling Memorial is available for a fee that covers the expenses of shipping and maintenance. An online application is available to request it for an event. For 2022, ATSSA, in partnership with The Foundation, agreed to cover the hosting fee for up to five public agencies to host the traveling Memorial. The agencies must be holding a media event this calendar year and not have previously hosted the Memorial. The 30-minute virtual Memorial is a powerful yet cost-effective option for groups with limited space and resources. The virtual Memorial can be used at both in-person and virtual meetings such as for ATSSA Chapters, civic groups and others wanting to raise awareness. It can be shown before a meeting, during breaks and even as part of a meeting to advance roadway safety. Complete the Virtual Memorial Host Application to utilize it at an upcoming meeting. Names are added to the Memorial each year as a result of the efforts of family, friends and former co-workers who submit them to The Foundation. The Memorial includes the names of roadway workers as well as motorists, pedestrians, law enforcement officers, public safety officials i.e., firefighters and paramedics and children. Details are available outlining the process as well as a form for submitting a name.
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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. 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. The competitive program provides scholarships valued up to $10,000 per student each year. 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. The Roadway Worker Memorial Scholarship Program celebrates its 20th anniversary this year and has awarded $358,000 since its inception. Thirteen students are currently attending college thanks to a Roadway Worker Memorial Scholarship. Two of those also received a Chuck Bailey Memorial Scholarship for this school year. Hear from Roadway Worker Memorial Scholarship recipients about how The ATSS Foundation scholarships helped them achieve their dreams. “It is a privilege to help the dependents of fallen or permanently injured roadway workers pursue their goals,” said Foundation Director Lori Diaz. “But we couldn’t offer these scholarships without the generosity of individual donors, ATSSA members and sponsors of the events we hold throughout the year. Everyone’s contribution is essential to helping these worthy students pursue their dreams.” The ATSS Foundation is the charitable arm of ATSSA. It was formed in 1988 with the core purpose to promote roadway safety through charitable giving and public awareness programs. Donations can be made at Foundation.ATSSA.com/Donate.
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