January Safety Roundup 2026

This blog series serves as a monthly highlight of recent news/updates in the safety industry, including airport, construction, events, and general safety news.

To keep you informed about recent and current safety highlights, we’ve compiled some of the most pertinent updates and national stories here to keep you updated on all things safety.

This month, we’ll highlight new infrastructure funding, the record number that data center deals hit this year, newly released research on modernizing safety standards for automated vehicles, a new permitting reform bill that just passed in the House, and new technologies for work zone safety. 

In OTW news, our Winter Sale is still on! Don’t miss these incredible savings, good until the end of January – new barricades are the perfect way to start your new year, if we do say so ourselves.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               

Table of Contents

1 – Data center deals hit record $61 billion in 2025 amid construction frenzy

2 – Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy Announces $1.5 Billion in Infrastructure Funding to Get America Building Again

3 – NHTSA Releases Multi-Year Research Project on Modernizing Safety Standards for Automated Vehicles

4 – Permitting Reform Bill to Cut Red Tape and Improve Project Affordability Passes House

5 – FDOT’s 2025 SWIFTT Challenge highlights connected and digital technologies for work zone safety

6 – Alaska Airlines Uses AI-Driven Technology to Transform Ramp Safety Culture

7-  OTW News and Featured Products

Data center deals hit record $61 billion in 2025 amid construction frenzy

The demand for AI and the data centers that host the artificial mega-mind systems has only increased as 2025 has continued, with expected interest and growth to continue into 2026. However, while plenty are still investing in the newer tech, many are finding that debt issuance is becoming necessary to fund these enormous endeavors. As it is, new builds may be slowed down both by this and a temporary lack of energy supply.

Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy Announces $1.5 Billion in Infrastructure Funding to Get America Building Again

Washington DC announced in mid-December that U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy has publicized a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) through Better Utilizing Investments to Leverage Development (BUILD) Grants for 2026. This will create $1.5 billion worth of opportunities across the country for improvements in infrastructure, specifically for transportation for families. It is also intended to beautify transportation infrastructure, facilitate tourism, and support U.S.energy dominance, among other things.  

NHTSA Releases Multi-Year Research Project on Modernizing Safety Standards for Automated Vehicles

Years in the making, the NHTSA recently released its final volume of its research titled “FMVSS Considerations for Vehicles with Automated Driving Systems”. This research project examined over 80 Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards to ascertain how they could be applied to automated driving systems in the newest, most innovative vehicle designs, and considered potential changes to safety standards that would address issues posed by said automated vehicles.  

Permitting Reform Bill to Cut Red Tape and Improve Project Affordability Passes House

To streamline the Clean Water Act (CWA), the House of Representatives recently passed legislation that will overhaul the permitting process and help keep construction costs, utility bills, and the burden on permit seekers low. The reforms are meant to help continue to protect the nation’s water quality while simultaneously helping states, communities, and others more easily comply with CWA regulations and processes. It is also meant to improve project affordability as a whole.  

FDOT’s 2025 SWIFTT Challenge highlights connected and digital technologies for work zone safety

The Florida Department of Transportation hosted the 2025 SWIFTT Challenge in Orlando, Florida, in December 2025. There, innovators and inventors showcased their solutions to improve safety and efficiency in work zones. The five finalists made it to the final round by presenting ideas combining digital tools, connectivity, and advanced materials. The results speak to the current needs of work zones across the states and showcase how such improvements can be made to conform to FHWA rules. Events like the SWIFTT Challenge are great places to discover new solutions and practices that can make a world of difference in work zone safety.   

Alaska Airlines Uses AI-Driven Technology to Transform Ramp Safety Culture

Too many near-misses and plenty of collisions had Alaska Airlines reconsidering how its ground support crews worked. Ramp operations, in particular, are inherently dangerous and fast-paced, making increased vigilance and enhanced safety measures necessary. To combat unsafe driving practices, Alaska Airlines implemented in-cab coaching technology using artificial intelligence, which has reduced those unsafe driving behaviors by 70%. They hope this “smart” safety coach will transform ramp operations safety and impact the ground support crew and equipment in positive ways.    

OTW News

The Winter Sale is still on!

Now through January 31, you can save up to 25% on our bestsellers when you buy whole pallets or truckloads, or when you bundle with other products.

For this sale, you’ll be able to save big on:

• OTW 32” Compact Jersey Shape LCD Barricade (Receive 10% off a full pallet)
• OTW 42” Jersey Shape LCD Barricade (Receive 10% off a full pallet, 15% off FTL, and save an additional 5% when bundled with our Bi-Directional Hazard Light – BDL)
• AR10x96 Low-Profile Airport Barricade (10% off a full pallet, 15% off FTL, and save an extra 5% when bundled with our Airport Hazard Light – AHL)
• OTW Billboard Barricade (Receive 15% off a full pallet, 20% off FTL)

If you’re looking for even more savings on Billboard Barricades, ask us about them in Royal Blue – we have overstock available in this specific color, and that’s your best way to save (25% off multi-pallet quantities)!  

These are all incredible deals, so don’t miss your chance to stock up on OTW barricades while prices are low. New year, new barricades – right? 

Have questions? Our team is available to provide quotes, address questions, and more at orders@otwsafety.com. 

Happy Holidays, and Happy New Year from OTW Safety!