July 25, 2025

By Lane Kimble

A new work zone warning alarm doesn’t sound like a police car or fire truck.  That’s by design.  Instead, it’s set to the same frequency at which babies cry, tapping into drivers’ subconscious to make them more aware of risks nearby.

WisDOT and WTBA members learned about the Audible Attenuator system from AWS’ Michael Netherton during the Work Zone Safety Task Force’s meeting Thursday afternoon.

The mixture of lights and sounds can be mounted on a truck, trailer or stationary platform in and around work zones.  AWS spent four years developing the unit, then deployed it with Missouri’s DOT.  The system won MoDOT’s “Innovation of the Year” award in 2016.

Iowa started using the tool on dozens of trucks in 2021.

“It’s designed to get your attention and get you to look up before you reach a point of no return,” Netherton told the group, which includes Matt Grove, Elise Nelson, and Lane Kimble.

AWS will demonstrate the unit for WisDOT in-person next week.

Later in the meeting, Nelson took time to detail two pieces of safety investments made in the 2025 state budget, including $600,000 to launch an enhanced work zone safety pilot study for next season and $60,000 per year to create a virtual platform to teach young drivers about work zone dangers as part of their required education.

WTBA and its supporters launched a similar program in April 2024.

The safety task force also heard from the UW-Madison Traffic Operations and Safety Lab (TOPS).  The lab is using Federal Highway Administration grant funding to continue and expand free work zone safety training this summer and fall.

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