2008-05-21 23:38:42 -
- MACTEC, Inc. Janis Brown, Marketing Manager, 770-360-0585 jsbrown@mactec.com or Leavitt Communications Neal Leavitt, 760-639-2900 neal@leavcom.com MACTEC Engineering and Consulting (MACTEC E&C) is partnering in a Virginia campaign promoting safe driving habits. Bruce C. Coles, chairman of MACTEC, Inc., the holding company (www.mactec.com), made the announcement.
State agencies/organizations partnering in the Highway Safety Challenge include
the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT), Virginia State Police, Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles, Virginia Transportation Construction Alliance (VTCA; MACTEC is a member), AAA Mid-Atlantic, Pocahontas 895 and the Virginia Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control.
MACTEC is the only privately-held engineering/consulting firm that is participating in the Highway Safety Challenge. The campaign's mission is to reduce the number of highway employees killed in highway work zones and to decrease the number of highway crashes and fatalities statewide. More than 900 people are killed on Virginia's highways each year (the #1 leading cause of death for Virginians under the age of 30), including 17 work zone fatalities and 1,098 injuries.
Five key guidelines are being promoted to reinforce this: 1) Buckle up; 2) Avoid distractions; 3) Share the road; 4) Drive drug- and alcohol-free; and 5) Obey speed limits.
"We maintain a large fleet of vehicles on Virginia's roadways and encourage other businesses that may have similar fleets to participate so we can all contribute and slow the rate of highway deaths," said MACTEC North Division Manager Joe Sczurko.
MACTEC Corporate Director of Environment, Safety & Health (ES&H) Howard Gordon stated that as an active VTCA member, MACTEC takes driver safety very seriously. "Highway projects create special hazards for motorists and workers. Our employees work in and drive through these areas. Our goal is to reduce the hazards and to eliminate the potential risks for both motorists and workers."
He added the firm has taken a number of proactive steps to reduce the company's vehicle incident rate. The 2006 National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) vehicle incident rate benchmark is 2.57; MACTEC's rate was 1.70 and, with the implementation of proactive training, has reduced the rate to 0.65.
"We recently installed cameras in company vehicles which continuously record during vehicle operations but recordings are not saved unless the vehicle experiences a sharp turn, pothole or impact with another vehicle," said Gordon. "This has helped to modify driver behavior and has reduced staff injuries, property damage and insurance costs. As part of our safety program, each employee receives a monthly 'Safetygram' newsletter and quiz intended to keep safety at the forefront of our people."
MACTEC, based in Alpharetta, GA, is a leading infrastructure engineering firm focused on five strategic business practice areas: Facilities, Transportation, Water, Energy, and Telecommunication. With annual revenues over $450 million, MACTEC's 3,000-plus employees work from over 80 offices nationwide. MACTEC consistently ranks in the top 10% of Engineering News-Record's Top 500 Design Firms. The firm has operated in Virginia since the late 1940's. Virginia offices are located in Abingdon, Ashburn, Fairfax, Herndon and Richmond.
¶ Campaign Promotes Safe Driving Habits
