Keeping Alabama’s roads safe extends far beyond designing highways and maintaining infrastructure. It also means investing time in educating the people who teach the state’s newest drivers.
Committed to the Community
As part of that commitment, ALDOT Traffic Engineer Robert Wiese recently served as a guest speaker at the 2026 Driver Education Summer Conference at Gulf Shores High School. The Alabama State Department of Education hosted the event. The conference brought together driver’s education instructors from across Alabama to share best practices for preparing young drivers.
At the invitation of Jeremy Seamon, administrator of Driver and Traffic Safety Education for the Alabama State Department of Education, Wiese presented traffic engineering topics that directly affect today’s drivers.
His presentation focused on:
- How speed correlates with crash severity.
- The importance of traffic signs and pavement markings in communicating with drivers.
- Why do engineers choose modern intersection designs, such as roundabouts and Diverging Diamond Interchanges (DDIs), instead of traditional four-way stops or traffic signals?
- Practical tips for teaching new drivers how to safely navigate these intersections.
One of Wiese’s key messages to instructors was simple: “Keep calm and carry on. Follow what the signs and pavement markings are telling you.”
“As our transportation system continues to evolve, driver’s education must evolve with it,” Wiese said. “Every sign, pavement marking and intersection design has a purpose. When new drivers understand why roads are designed the way they are and how to navigate them, they become more confident and make better decisions, which helps keep everyone safe.”
Focus on Safety
Modern intersection designs are becoming more common across Alabama because they improve traffic flow and can reduce serious crashes. As a result, helping driver’s education instructors understand these designs can better prepare future generations of motorists before they get behind the wheel.
Wiese said partnerships between transportation professionals and educators play an important role in improving highway safety.
The conference is one example of the many ways ALDOT employees give back to their communities by sharing their knowledge and expertise outside their daily responsibilities. Through these efforts, ALDOT employees are committed to improving safety through education and outreach, whether speaking in classrooms, participating in community events or partnering with schools and local organizations.
Together, engineering, education and community partnerships are helping build a safer transportation system for all Alabamians.
