ARTBA Director, Scholarship Recipient Join WZ Awareness Event in Manhattan

ARTBA Director Rich Cavallaro & Highway Worker Memorial Scholarship Recipient Nicole Rumley Join New York City Event to Kick Off National Work Zone Awareness Week

(Washington, D.C.)—Having the “undivided attention” of motorists navigating the unique safety challenges posed by roadway construction zones can help reduce accidents and save lives. That was the message of transportation design and construction industry leaders, safety professionals and public officials attending the launch of “National Work Zone Awareness Week” April 19 in New York City.

Rich Cavallaro, president of Skanska USA Civil and an American Road & Transportation Builders Association (ARTBA) director, along with Nicole Rumley, a three-time recipient of the ARTBA Foundation’s “Highway Worker Memorial Scholarship Program,” represented the organization at the ceremony held near Battery Park in Lower Manhattan. The ARTBA Foundation-managed National Work Zone Safety Information Clearinghouse (www.workzonesafety.org), which is the world’s largest online safety resource, is also helping promote the week-long event.

The theme for this year, “Work Zones Need Your Undivided Attention,” alerts motorists about the small margin of error for drivers passing through these sites. More than 700 people were killed in work zone crashes in 2008—the most current year available. Approximately 90 percent of these fatalities are motorists and their passengers.

In roadway work zones, “undivided attention” means being prepared before—and during—travel that passes a work zone. Motorists should be ready to encounter rough surfaces, uneven pavement, slower speeds and traffic queues that often present a need to slow down abruptly. ARTBA offers some simple tips to help motorists:

• Know the work zone signs.

• Pay attention to other drivers.

• Keep an eye out for workers.

• Stay focused. Avoid distractions.

• Expect the unexpected.

• Keep your cool and be patient.

ARTBA is a long-time leader in roadway safety initiatives. For 30 years, the members of its Traffic Safety Industry Division have been designing and manufacturing materials, services and equipment relating to the control of traffic or safety on transportation facilities.

Since 1999, the “Highway Worker Memorial Scholarship Fund,” which provides post-high school financial assistance to the children of highway workers killed or permanently disabled on the job, has helped more than 70 students like Nicole Rumley. The ARTBA Foundation provides safety training to thousands of road construction workers under contracts from the Federal Highway Administration and Occupational Safety & Health Administration. The association also provides industry professionals with a variety of publications and videos aimed at improving safety on the job site.

To learn more about these safety programs, contact ARTBA Vice President of Safety & Education Brad Sant at bsant@artba.org.