NATSO Joins Work Zone Safety Coalition
NATSO this week joined a newly formed Work Zone Safety Coalition – a broad group of infrastructure stakeholders collectively promoting a federal focus on roadside safety in the upcoming surface transportation reauthorization. Members include civil engineers; traffic safety representatives; general contractors; the asphalt, paving and cement industries; road builders, as well as sign and guardrail installers.
Through this coalition, we’re making new friends and strengthening existing relationships to advance initiatives that will improve safety for roadside repair technicians. Like NATSO, these organizations represent businesses employing men and women who work along the Interstate Highway System. More than 800 NATSO member locations operate repair facilities that service commercial motor vehicles along the Interstate Highway System.
While many states have implemented work zone safety initiatives, federal policy is needed to harmonize, unify — and expand upon — state highway safety initiatives. Our collective goal is to advance federal policy for the work zone safety issues that oftentimes are addressed only at the state level.
NATSO Supports the “Preventing Roadside and Work Zone Deaths Act”
NATSO supports the bipartisan “Preventing Roadside and Work Zone Deaths Act,” introduced by Congressman Troy A. Carter Sr. (D-LA), Congresswoman Dina Titus (D-NV), Congressman Rudy Yakym (R-IN), and Congressman Rob Bresnahan, Jr. (R-PA).
Lawmakers aim to introduce companion legislation in the Senate in coming months.
The House legislation would require the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) to collect and publish detailed data on disabled roadside vehicle crashes and work zone crashes and to develop a strategic plan to stop these incidents. The bill also would require U.S. DOT to create two working groups that analyze data on work zone crashes and develop a strategic plan to identify and implement solutions to improve work zone safety.
NATSO, and the Work zone Safety Coalition, is advocating for this legislation to be incorporated into the next surface transportation reauthorization. Current surface transportation law is set to expire in 2026; and lawmakers already are collecting stakeholder input with a goal of introducing legislative text later this year.
NATSO also is advocating for truck stop and travel center representation on these working groups. These working groups represent a significant opportunity for NATSO’s members to provide insight into how best to improve safety for repair technicians who service commercial vehicles along the Interstate Highways.
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