ATSSA's Position on the Identification of Crashworthy

Work Zone Traffic Control Devices

The American Traffic Safety Services Association (ATSSA) has been promoting the advancement of work zone safety for over 32 years.  ATSSA continues to be the leading advocate of work zone safety and believes that our continuing partnership with FHWA on safety issues contributes significantly to roadway safety.

ATSSA requests that Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) issue a memorandum supporting the development of an identification system to standardize the markings of work zone traffic control devices that have been accepted as crashworthy by FHWA.  The implementation and use of such an identification system would help inspectors and other field personnel easily determine if the work zone device(s) are indeed crashworthy.  If the FHWA accepts our proposal to issue a memorandum, it should be communicated to the FHWA's Division Offices and the FHWA's section of their website under "Frequently Asked Questions" section (http://safety.fhwa.dot.gov/legislationandpolicy/fast/qanda.cfm).

ATSSA further recommends that these three elements should be included as guidance for manufacturers and providers to develop their own identification system:

• "NCHRP Report #350 Compliant"
• "FHWA Accepted WZ-#"
• The Manufacturer's "Name" and/or "Product ID"

The "identifying" mark(s) may utilize a decal, embossment, tag, or other method that will resist removal due to exposure to weather, vandalism, or vigorous handling, and be easily visible and legible.  Manufacturers and providers of these devices should provide specific information regarding the location of their identifying marking(s) when a request is made to them to provide a "WZ" acceptance letter.  Additionally, a date certain should be considered for devices to be "identified."  For those devices that are already in service they shall remain "unmarked," until they reach the end of their useful service life.

This recommendation only applies to Category 2 work zone devices that have been accepted as crashworthy by the FHWA.  Thank you for your thoughtful consideration on this important issue.