Yesterday, the American Traffic Safety Services Association (ATSSA) Chair-Elect Haley Norman cited ongoing challenges in protecting drivers and roadway workers as she addressed the House Transportation & Infrastructure’s Subcommittee on Highways & Transit.
Norman, who is co-owner of Direct Traffic Control Inc. in Muskogee, Okla., testified on behalf of ATSSA. She was one of four people who appeared at the hearing entitled, “America Builds: A Review of Programs to Address Roadway Safety.”
Norman addressed a broad swath of roadway safety topics ranging from work zone safety to safety infrastructure and autonomous vehicles. In her submitted testimony, she said that now is the time to bring together stakeholders and policymakers to “chart a new path forward” as Congress begins drafting the next surface transportation authorization bill.
Rep. David J. Taylor of Ohio asked Norman about the impact of the Biden administration ruling on the Buy America, Build America Act on her industry.
She said ATSSA supports utilizing American-made products but the inability to obtain needed materials “halts projects” for roadway safety. In her statement to the subcommittee, she said ATSSA was “very disappointed” by the Jan. 14 ruling that “ended a longstanding waiver of BABA requirements for manufactured products on federal-aid highway projects.”
In response to another question, Norman said uncertain funding has a major effect on her ability to run a small business, which requires “million-dollar investments” to complete projects.
Her company has installed many lifesaving devices such as rumble strips, signage, pavement markings and guardrail in those communities and “that investment in safety works.”
Throughout the hearing, Norman, other panelists and members of Congress cited the estimated 40,900 roadway deaths on U.S. roadways in 2023, according to National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) data, which is an average of 112 deaths every day.
Norman said that roadway workers are among the most vulnerable road users and that an average of 115 of them were killed in work zones each of the last five years.
Norman highlighted five programs she said should see greater investment in the next surface transportation reauthorization bill including the Highway Safety Improvement Program (HSIP), Work Zone Safety, Rural Road Safety, Tribal Road Safety and the Safe Streets and Roads for All Program.
A final concern was the pace of getting new safety infrastructure products approved for use on the nation’s roadways. She said 14 member companies currently have 20 outstanding eligibility letters for innovative safety products that could help save lives but that they average a wait of 10 months for a response.
Norman said her company has seen the risks to worker safety, the challenges of skyrocketing costs for small businesses and the ongoing toll of traffic fatalities.
“As a safety professional, business owner and mother, we must all work to together to make our roads and communities safe,” Norman said in concluding her opening statement. “ATSSA members are ready to do what we do best – roll up our sleeves and get to work.”
Source: American Traffic Safety Services Association
