Why ATSSA Best Practices Matter to Municipal Decision‑Makers
Municipal agencies are responsible for balancing public safety, worker protection, budget accountability, and liability exposure—often under tight timelines and changing field conditions.
While minimum compliance is required, experienced public works and procurement teams know that minimum standards alone do not guarantee safe outcomes. This is where ATSSA best practices play a critical role.
ATSSA guidance helps agencies move from “meets the requirement” to “supports safer behavior in real‑world conditions.” This distinction is especially important in short‑duration work zones, pedestrian reroutes, and community events where conditions change quickly.
What ATSSA Is—and What It Is Not
The American Traffic Safety and Services Association (ATSSA) is a nationally recognized organization focused on advancing roadway and work‑zone safety through training, research, and best‑practice guidance.
It is important for procurement and safety professionals to understand:
- ATSSA does not set regulations
- ATSSA does not certify or endorse specific products
- ATSSA guidance complements MUTCD requirements by addressing real‑world application
This makes ATSSA resources especially valuable for agencies seeking to reduce incidents, claims, and operational risk—without over‑relying on prescriptive rules.
ATSSA Best Practices That Influence Barricade Selection
ATSSA best practices consistently emphasize outcomes tied to human behavior and exposure reduction. When applied to barricade selection, several principles stand out.
1. Visibility That Commands Attention
Barricades should be immediately recognizable as a restriction—not a suggestion. ATSSA guidance reinforces the importance of:
- High‑visibility colors
- Clear contrast with surrounding environments
- Consistent presentation across deployments
For municipalities, improved visibility reduces confusion for residents, visitors, and contractors unfamiliar with local conditions.
2. Clear and Continuous Delineation
Partial barriers, gaps, or mixed device types can unintentionally signal permission to enter restricted areas. ATSSA best practices stress:
- Continuous visual boundaries
- Clear separation between public space and work areas
- Minimizing ambiguous access points
This is especially relevant for pedestrian routing near schools, civic buildings, and downtown corridors.
3. Consistency Across Sites and Departments
Inconsistent devices increase cognitive load and slow reaction time. ATSSA guidance favors predictable, repeatable layouts that users quickly learn to recognize.
For municipalities managing multiple crews or contractors, standardized barricade types help:
- Improve public compliance
- Reduce setup errors
- Simplify training and inventory management
4. Reduced Worker Exposure During Deployment
ATSSA best practices recognize that every additional minute spent deploying traffic control devices increases worker exposure to risk.
Barricades that are:
- Lightweight
- Quick to deploy
- Easy to transport and store
support safer operations—particularly for maintenance, utilities, and short‑term projects.
ATSSA best practices for temporary traffic control barricades
Where Temporary Barricades Fit Within ATSSA‑Aligned Planning
Barricades play a distinct role in the traffic control device hierarchy. Compared to cones or tubular markers, barricades provide:
- Stronger visual authority
- A clearer physical boundary
- Better support for pedestrian control
ATSSA best practices frequently align barricade use with:
- Sidewalk and crosswalk closures
- Restricted access near active work zones
- Short‑duration or mobile operations
- Public‑facing environments where clarity matters
How Flex‑Safe Barricades Support ATSSA Best‑Practice Outcomes
Flex‑Safe folding barricades are designed to support the outcomes emphasized in ATSSA guidance, including:
- High visibility: bold color options and clear warning presentation
- Continuous appearance: aligned deployment that reduces implied access
- Consistency: uniform design across use cases
- Deployment efficiency: lightweight, folding construction that speeds setup and removal
Flex‑Safe barricades are not ATSSA‑endorsed, but they are engineered to support ATSSA‑aligned safety planning in municipal and professional environments.
What This Means for Municipal Procurement Teams
When evaluating barricades, procurement decisions should consider more than unit cost. ATSSA‑aligned questions include:
- Will this barricade improve public understanding of restricted areas?
- Can it be deployed consistently across departments and contractors?
- Does it reduce worker exposure during setup and retrieval?
- Will it hold up to repeated municipal use?
Products that support these outcomes often deliver lower total cost of ownership and reduced operational risk.
Question 1: Are ATSSA best practices legally required?
No. ATSSA best practices are not legal requirements. The MUTCD establishes the minimum, legally recognized standards for traffic control devices, while ATSSA best practices provide professional guidance on how to apply those standards more effectively in real-world conditions. Many agencies use ATSSA guidance to reduce risk, improve consistency, and enhance safety outcomes beyond minimum compliance.
Question 2: How do ATSSA best practices influence barricade selection?
ATSSA best practices emphasize outcomes such as visibility, clear delineation, consistency, and reduced worker exposure during deployment. When applied to barricade selection, this guidance encourages agencies to choose devices that clearly communicate restricted access, deploy efficiently, and support predictable public behavior—particularly in short-duration work zones, pedestrian reroutes, and public-facing environments.
