WTOP's Dave Dildine Named Winner of ATSSA National Award

RADIO ONLINE | Monday, January 27, 2020

Dave Dildine

The American Traffic Safety Services Association (ATSSA) has named WTOP Traffic Reporter, Dave Dildine, as the winner of the Eighth Annual ATSSA National Media Award. The annual award is presented for fair, balanced and informative reporting on the transportation and roadway safety industry.

The year 2020 marks the eighth ceremony that honors the winning candidate and provides national recognition of their efforts that highlighted the importance of roadway safety in the United States.

"Dave's commitment to and passion for his craft are undeniable. Each day, he comes to work ready to provide our listeners and readers with the most accurate traffic and weather information they need to stay safe, be prepared and get where they are going," said Julia Ziegler, WTOP's Director of News and Programming.

Dildine was nominated for the award by Ellen Kamilakis of the Virginia Department of Transportation, Northern Virginia District for his reporting on transportation related issues for WTOP. He accepted the award over the weekend at ATSSA's 50th Annual Convention & Traffic Expo in New Orleans during the Chairman's Reception and Gala.

"I am humbled by the recognition from a leading advocate for roadway safety. Although my on-air digressions about the Move Over Law or crash-prone ramps are sometimes met with eye rolls, today I'm reassured that the effort to make our highways safer is alive and stronger than ever," said Dildine. "This award has reaffirmed my commitment to keeping traffic moving and keeping drivers and responders out of harm's way."

Dildine joined the WTOP team in 2010 as a traffic reporter. In 2019, he was promoted to the role of afternoon drive traffic anchor. In addition to reporting on the 8's, Dave has covered many breaking weather stories for WTOP including last year's record flash floods in the DC region and his heroic rescue of a drowning woman in Rock Creek Park at the height of a 2019 snow storm. In addition to his reporting, Dave is also an award-winning photographer.