Association Releases New "High Friction Surface" Publication In Support Of Federal Highway Administration's "Every Day Counts" Initiative

FREDERICKSBURG, Va., March 4, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- An international roadway safety association - the American Traffic Safety Services Association (ATSSA) – has released an all-new publication designed to provide transportation agencies and local governments with information on a relatively new lifesaving technology – the installation of high friction surfacing – on America's roadways.

High friction surfacing treatments result when small-sized polish and wear-resistant aggregates are bonded to the pavement surface with a resin product. The treated surface increases a motor vehicle's braking capacity significantly.

The new publication, "Safety Opportunities in High Friction Surfacing," provides an overview of the technology and case studies that demonstrate where installations of the new surface treatment have resulted in significant reductions in motor vehicle crashes. The publication also aligns itself with the Federal Highway Administrations' (FHWA) "Every Day Counts" initiative, which is, according to the agency's website, "designed to identify and deploy innovation aimed at shortening project delivery, enhancing the safety of our roadways and protecting the environment."

"The effort to complete this new publication is one of many joint efforts over the last year in which the roadway safety industry has partnered with the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) to ensure that this latest lifesaving roadway technology is understood and applied correctly as a speed countermeasure to increase braking and vehicle control to reduce crashes, especially at horizontal curves and intersections," said ATSSA's High Friction Surfacing Council Chairman Robert Dingess. 

ATSSA's President and Chief Executive Officer Roger Wentz added, "Both the Federal Highway Administration and AASHTO's pavement and safety staff provided genuine leadership in testing and documenting the benefits of high friction surfacing for a number of years. We feel the case studies in this new publication will serve as an excellent resource for state and local agencies facing similar safety problems."  

Since 1969, ATSSA has represented companies and individuals in the traffic control and roadway safety industry. Over 1,600 ATSSA members provide the majority of features, services and devices used to make our nation's roadways safer. These include pavement markings, road signs, work zone traffic control devices, guardrail, and other roadside safety features.

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