AATC and AWP Safety: Preferred Partners In Testing New Safety Technologies
David Feise began his traffic control career 20+ years ago as a branch manager for a barricade company. Today, he’s Florida’s premier traffic management expert for heavy highway projects — and a go-to resource when the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) needs to test innovative technology.
Feise currently serves as both the president of Arrive Alive Traffic Control (AATC), an AWP Safety company, and president of the Florida chapter of the American Traffic Safety Services Association (ATSSA). He’s also a former ATSSA master instructor.
David Feise shares how his innovative work with AATC, ATSSA and FDOT is paving the way for safer roads in the Sunshine State.
Q: David, what are Florida’s unique traffic control challenges? How are you
involved in overcoming them?
We have traffic congestion and ongoing road construction like every other state, but our demographics make us different. Florida has many more mature drivers since our state attracts so many retirees to live here. Special equipment like wider roadway strips improves visibility and safety for older drivers. We also attract millions of tourists annually, many who are traveling internationally and don’t speak English. We use symbols on our road signs to help them understand traffic instructions and laws. Florida also gets heavy rain, requiring FDOT to use highly reflective tape and raised pavement markers for driver safety when it’s raining buckets. Our AATC team has a lot of experience managing worksite setup and traffic control that meets the unique needs of our state because we’ve spent our entire history focused specifically on FDOT work and requirements.
Q: How does your involvement in ATSSA keep Florida’s highway worksites Safer?
AATC’s involvement with ATSSA ensures we’re up on the latest road safety trends, certifications, and training at both the state and federal levels. The traffic control specialists on my team are some of the best trained in the industry. I’ve served as an ATSSA master trainer myself, which means I’m enthusiastic about giving people access to training and development opportunities that make them better safety professionals. It’s one of my top priorities while serving as the current president for ATSSA’s Florida chapter. When AATC joined AWP Safety last year, I was excited to learn they also have strong ATSSA ties. We’re all major players in the traffic control industry, nationally and locally. Together, we use our combined industry knowledge to educate and advocate for better community safety practices and government road safety legislation.
Q: Tell us more about ATSSA training. Why is it the industry standard?
The safety of anyone working on roads, and everyone traveling through those worksites, depends on traffic control workers who know what they’re doing. ATSSA training is as diverse as its members. We cover topics ranging from introductory flagging courses to advanced training for executing complex traffic control plans. Specialty courses include pavement marking, surface treatment and the design and installation of guardrails and barriers. Achieving ATSSA certifications and designations is what distinguishes someone as a true traffic control expert. With them, people know you’ve been trained by the best. It’s not easy to become a master trainer; you need a lot of experience and must score above a 95 on all testing to become a trainer.
Q: You have become a “go-to” resource for FDOT as they explore new traffic control technologies. Why?
My focus is on maintaining AATC as an industry leader in Florida. One way we do that is by testing how we can leverage next-generation technology to save more lives. I’ve been in the industry a long time and built a strong relationship with FDOT, helping manage many of their past mega-projects, including the last two largest in the state’s history. Every product that goes on the roadway for traffic control must be on Florida’s Approved Product List in Florida, but first starts out on an Innovative Products List. Over the years and through FDOT’s process, I have tested and contributed products that were eventually approved for use on Florida’s roads.
Q: How has that translated into AATC leading the way in validation testing? What
are you testing now?
At AATC we have positioned ourselves as the go-to provider for deployment and monitoring when new devices need tested on FDOT roadways. Over the years I have done testing for autonomous truck-mounted attenuators (TMAs) and placed the state’s first queue warning system and sequential cone lights, to name a few new technologies. Testing these products led to incorporation and changes in specifications, and advanced discussions related to worker and driver safety. AATC will continue to challenge the status quo and lead the discussion on new technology benefiting roadway safety.
Arrive Alive Traffic Control (AATC) joined AWP Safety by acquisition in August 2023, advancing AWP Safety’s position as a leading traffic control and safety services provider for heavy highway construction projects. Together, the companies deliver the industry’s most comprehensive safety solutions in the Southeastern U.S.
Looking to work with AWP Safety on your next project? As America’s leading traffic safety company, our portfolio of regional brands currently covers over 160 locations across 28 U.S. states and four Canadian provinces. Contact us for a free consultation!
