On Wednesday, Feb. 15, a group of 10 Middleton High School students will conduct a “Road Safety Audit” near their high school (4801 N. 22nd Street), following roadway safety briefing and orientation by representatives from the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) and other roadway safety experts.

Students will examine how infrastructure improvements, such as better and brighter signage, more visible pavement markings, guardrails, or other safety features can help make roadways safer.

The messages of don’t text or drink while driving, or wear your seatbelts are all critical messages and actions, as is awareness of the dangers that exist on our roadways,” said Rudy Umbs, retired Federal Highway Administration chief highway safety Engineer, who will lead the orientation and then guide the students during the audit. “We hope to demonstrate to these students how to make roads safer, and how to help improve the existing roadway for all motorists.”

Peter Hsu, FDOT District safety and special projects engineer, who will also participate in the audit, adds: “Locally, the ‘Teen Roadway Safety Assessment and Infrastructure Safety Program’ helps teens learn how to identify roadway safety issues when they are walking, biking or travelling in cars. It’s a great safety awareness program for teenagers,” said

Following the audit, the students will travel to the Tampa Convention Center, the site of the American Traffic Safety Services Association’s (ATSSA) Annual Convention and Traffic Expo, to tour the exhibit hall and to learn even more about roadway safety. Hundreds of roadway safety devices and features will be on display at the Convention Center during the Feb. 14-16 convention – the largest convention of its kind in North America.

The audit is being sponsored by the National Organizations for Youth Safety (NOYS) and the American Traffic Safety Services (ATSS) Foundation. NOYS, headquartered in Gainesville, Va., promotes youth empowerment and leadership and builds partnerships to save lives and prevent injuries while promoting safe and healthy lifestyles among all youth. The ATSS Foundation’s parent organization, ATSSA, is headquartered in Fredericksburg, Va., is an international trade association whose members manufacture and install roadway safety devices. ATSSA also trains work zone workers nationally.

More on Road Safety Audits can be found at www.roadwaysafetyaudits.org.

Some products that will be featured include products from its Ultimate Sign Support System line including barricades, portable stands, its Penetrator, and Ultimate-Color.

Show attendees who stop by the Ultimate Highway Solutions booth may register to win an iPod nano, iTouch, and an iPad.

The ATSSA Convention runs Feb. 13-17 and the Traffic Expo runs Feb. 15-17 at the Phoenix Convention Center in Phoenix, Ariz.

The new Pinnacle Series Lightbars feature SoundOff Signal’s exclusive Fusion Technology optics.

Fusion Technology fuses the wide angle and light output aspects for a super, wide angle output that blasts the light farther than any other light, according to the company.

The Pinnacle Mini Lightbar is perfect where a bright safety signal is required, such as for volunteer fire and law enforcement vehicles and DOT/construction vehicles.

The lightbar is available in a permanent or magnetic mount with 28 flash patterns and has a five-year warranty.