FREDERICKSBURG, Va., March 11 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The American Traffic Safety Services Association (ATSSA) applauds the U.S. Department of Transportation's recent announcement that the number of United States traffic fatalities reported for 2009 has reached the lowest level since 1954 -- a decline for the 15th consecutive quarter. The 2009 data places the highway fatality statistic at 33,963 - a drop of 8.9 percent -- as compared to 37,261 deaths in 2008.

Although highly successful law enforcement driver campaigns, safer vehicles, a decrease in vehicle miles traveled, and other "non-roadway" factors should rightfully be credited for reducing the number of fatalities over the years -- innovative, often low-cost, state-of-the-art lifesaving roadway safety features -- such as brighter reflective signs, rumble strips, guardrails, cable median barriers, crash cushions and edge line/centerline glass-bead high-visibility technology roadway striping -- should also be recognized for the overall reduction in roadway fatalities and injuries.

"Today's vehicles have many impressive safety devices to protect the motorist, but so do the hundreds of safety features on our nation's roadways," said ATSSA President and CEO Roger Wentz.

Wentz cited guardrails that effectively bring a vehicle and its passengers to a safe stop in a collision; bright, reflective signage and pavement markings - visible in any condition, day or night -- and countless other innovative roadway safety products and devices that motorists 'take for granted' every day when they travel on America's roadways.

"A safe vehicle is certainly a roadway safety contributor," Wentz said, "however, safer roads save lives."

Wentz also commended the 50 State Departments' of Transportation for their unwavering roadway safety efforts.

"State DOTs are working diligently to implement low-cost and common sense safety solutions to help make their local roadways safer for all motorists in communities across the country. Their lifesaving efforts should never go unnoticed and their efforts should rightfully be recognized and commended," Wentz added. "Something as simple as a series of chevron signs leading into a dangerous curve on a rainy, dark rural road at night can help alert a motorist that it's time to slow down, pay attention, and expect the unexpected."

Since 1969, ATSSA members have provided the majority of features, services and devices installed to make our nation's roadways safer, including pavement markings, road signs, work zone traffic control devices, guardrail, and other roadside safety features.

On the web: ATSSA.com

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