ATSSA Signal November December 2020

American Traffic Safety Services Association 28 Meetings & Conventions Traffic Control Device Student Challenge keeps theme, skips to 2022 TheTrafficControlDevice StudentChal- lenge will skip a year andmove to 2022. That move gives students an advantage since the theme for the 2021 competition had already been announced andwill be used for the 2022 competition. The theme for the 2022 Traffic Control Device (TCD) Student Challenge is “Inno- vativeTrafficControl DeviceStrategies for Speed Management on Limited Access Freeways.” The decision to skip the 2021 contest was made in light of the Transportation Research Board’s decision to hold a fully virtual annual meeting in January. ATSSA partnerswiththeTransportationResearch Board (TRB) Standing Committee on Traf- fic Control Devices in holding this annual contestthatgivesstudentstheopportunity topropose solutions to real-world issues in the transportation industry. Studentstraditionallypresenttheirprojects for judging during the TRB annual meet- ing each January and then the top three entriesmakepresentationsduringATSSA’s Annual Convention & Traffic Expo held a short time later. ATSSA has also decided to hold its 51st Annual Convention&Traf - fic Expo in a virtual format. “It’sdisappointingnottoholdthecompetition this year, but we agreed the decisionwas in the best interest of the safety andwell- beingof thestudents,” saidATSSADirector of Innovation and Technical Services Eric Perry. “We look forward to resuming the competitionnext year for the2022awards.” The TCD Student Challenge promotes innovation and stimulates ideas in the traffic control devices industrywithagoal to improve operations and safety and encourage futuregenerationsof roadway safety professionals. As part of the chal- lenge, individualsor student teams submit solutions in the subject area of transpor- tation and roadway safety, based on the chosen topic for the year. Contest submissions are traditionallydue by October. 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 partic- ularly encouraged to participate.  For contest details, ATSSA.com/TCDChallenge.