Bill Would Create New Roadway Safety Training Institute
Rep. Brett Guthrie (R-KY), a member of the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, recently announced legislation to help improve safety for roadway workers.
The Roadway Safety Training and Access Act (H.R. 5819) would create the Roadway Safety Training Institute, a grant program with the goal to deliver comprehensive training to roadway workers. The bill emphasizes the development and delivery of training on guardrail installation, maintenance, and inspection, and the training of non-traditional roadway workers (such as first responders and utility workers) on how to properly close down a lane of traffic and work on the road safely. The program also provides for identification by law enforcement personnel of potential engineering improvements at crash locations and traffic control for incident responders.
“I hope that this bill will be included in a comprehensive surface transportation reauthorization,” Guthrie said. “Too many families lose loved ones each year on our nation’s roadways. The I-65 corridor in Kentucky has seen several tragedies this year. Hopefully this program will help to improve safety in these dangerous areas.”
The American Traffic Safety Services Association (ATSSA) said it supports the bill because it would bring together industry, state DOTs, and the disabled community to try out new and innovative products that might assist a person with a disability safely traverse a work zone.
“ATSSA truly appreciates Rep. Guthrie’s work and his steadfast support for roadway safety infrastructure and work zone accessibility, and Congressman Guthrie and his staff should be commended for their efforts to introduce H.R. 5819,” said Roger Wentz, president and CEO of ATSSA.