ATSSA Signal March/April 2020

The Signal | March/April 2020 11 ATSSA News NWZAW 2020 Safe Work Zones for All Michigan kickoff proclaims, ‘We Can Do It!’ On April 20–24, roadway workers , government agencies, departments of transportation, ATSSA, and the motor - ing publicwill come together for National Work Zone Awareness Week (NWZAW) with a kickoff event in Michigan. NWZAWhighlights the importanceof safe driving through work zones because of the risks of injury or death to roadway workers and roadway users. The event started in Virginia in 1997 and became a national event three years later after ATSSA teamedwith the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and the Ameri - can Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) to increase its exposure. The safety awareness campaign has grown throughout the years and ATSSA member companies have taken the lead, hosting events and initiatives to support NWZAW across the country. This year’s theme is “Safe Work Zones for All: Protect workers. Protect road users.” It features a poster reminiscent of the World War II poster with Rosie the Riveter. In her place are a male and female roadway worker proclaiming the message of the original poster: “We Can Do It!” Michigan chose that image as a reflec - tion of its industrial heritage. The orig - inal “Rosies” worked as riveters in an aircraft factory in Ypsilanti, Mich., that built B24 bombers. That site is now the American Center for Mobility (ACM) where the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) will host the 2020 NWZAW kickoff on April 21. “Work Zone Awareness Week provides an opportunity for MDOT and industry leaders to remind everyone that safety is paramount in road construction. The goal is to cast a spotlight on work zone safety as the construction season kicks off,” said MDOT Director Paul Ajegba. ACM is an outdoor track on a 500-acre property where Connected and Auto - mated Vehicles (CAVs) are tested. MDOT has a partnership with ACM and felt it would be the perfect location for the NWZAW kickoff as it is representative of the future of our roadways, accord - ing to MDOT Work Zone Tech Specialist Chuck Bergmann. “It’s our largest test track for autonomous vehicles. We want to be at the forefront of newwork zone technologies as auton - omous vehicles become a major part of our roadways,” he said. Speakers invited to participate include representatives from theMichiganOccu - pational SafetyandHealthAdministration, the Michigan Infrastructure & Trans - portation Association, Michigan State Police, utility companies, contractors, and MDOT leadership and staff. MDOT is expected to provide demonstrations and displays showing different innova - tive work zone safety equipment and new work zone technologies. According to the National Work Zone Safety Information Clearinghouse, 671 fatal work zone crashes took place, resulting in 754 fatalities in 2018, the most recent year for which statistics were available. The average for the previous three years was 687 crashes and 767 fatalities. Michigan had 15 fatal crashes and 16 fatalities in 2018, according to clear - inghouse data. That was down from 23 crashes and 25 fatalities in 2017. Work Zone Awareness Week provides an opportunity for MDOT and industry leaders to remind everyone that safety is paramount in road construction. The goal is to cast a spotlight on work zone safety as the construction season kicks of f. Chuck Bergmann, Michigan Department of Transportation work zone tech specialist