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Illinois Tollway highlights distracted-driving campaign, honors telecommunicators and promotes Star 99 roadside service
Summary
The Tollway promoted a 'just drive' distracted-driving campaign and recognized telecommunicators for handling 25,000 annual service calls; officials also promoted National Work Zone Awareness Week, a contracting event and a staff award.
The Illinois Tollway Authority used its board meeting to spotlight roadway-safety outreach and to recognize a team of telecommunicators whose work supports rapid incident response and motorist assistance.
Chief of Safety and Security Arthur West opened the presentation by previewing an upcoming Tollway communications campaign called just drive, developed in partnership with the National Safety Council to mark Distracted Driving Awareness Month in April. “When you’re behind the wheel, your only job is to be the driver,” West said, summarizing the campaign’s message.
Nut graf: The presentation combined public-safety messaging with staff recognition and service reminders that affect travelers and vendors: a statewide work-zone awareness push, a contracting outreach event for small and diverse firms, and a reminder of the Tollway’s Star 99 motorist assistance service.
Telecommunicators and Star 99
West asked the board to recognize telecommunicators during National Telecommunicators Week; the presentation described the group as handling more than 25,000 service calls last year and coordinating responders, traffic operations and roadway signage to protect motorists. He described the team as “the eyes in the sky and on the road” and invited several telecommunicators in the meeting room to stand for recognition.
West also reminded the board that the Tollway’s Star 99 roadside assistance system connects motorists in need to trained telecommunicators who dispatch towing, emergency medical and other services.
Other outreach and awards
Executive Director Sandra (last name not specified) highlighted National Work Zone Awareness Week (April 21–25) and invited board members to share Tollway social media materials. She also promoted an upcoming contracting-with-government event scheduled for May 13 at the Schock Center in Elgin to help small, diverse and veteran-owned firms pursue Tollway and other state contracts.
The executive director congratulated Marlene Bick, acting chief of diversity and strategic development, for receiving the Outstanding Community Outreach Award at the African American Contractors Association Awards Gala.
Ending
The safety presentations and recognitions concluded with the board moving to the public-comment portion of the agenda.
