NHTSA Honors the Contributions of Devoted Safety Advocates at Annual Lifesavers Conference

NHTSA Honors the Contributions of Devoted Safety Advocates at Annual Lifesavers Conference

Topics: Lifesavers

NHTSA Honors the Contributions of Devoted Safety Advocates at Annual Lifesavers Conference

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
April 28, 2014

NHTSA 14-14
Monday, April 28, 2014
Contact: Nathan Naylor, 202-366-9550, Public.Affairs@dot.gov

NASHVILLE – The U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) presented 12 individuals and organizations with the NHTSA Public Service Award at today’s 32nd Annual Lifesavers Conference. The agency’s top public service award recognizes the tireless efforts people make to advance highway safety throughout the country.

“Safety is our top priority, and NHTSA has worked hard to reduce roadway fatalities to historic lows, but we can’t do this alone,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx. ‘Today’s award recipients represent the full spectrum of dedicated public servants who help us improve safety each and every day across the country. We thank them for their service, for the difference they have made and the example they are setting for others.”

The Lifesavers conference is the nation’s largest assembly of highway safety professionals, all of whom strive to improve the safety of America’s roadways and communities. NHTSA annually recognizes safety leaders and their exemplary efforts in the area of traffic fatality and injury reduction. The conference highlights emerging traffic safety issues and exposes participants to proven life-saving programs and best practices. This year’s conference expects to host more than 1,700 participants and include more than 100 exhibitors.

“We celebrate the individuals and organizations honored today and their relentless commitment to saving lives and reducing injuries on roads in states, cities and towns all across our country,” said NHTSA Acting Administrator David Friedman. “We appreciate their dedication and hard work in helping to improve traffic safety."

Here are the 12 public service award winners and their plaque citations:

Isaac T. Avery, III / North Carolina Conference of District Attorneys: In recognition of your leadership and dedication to highway safety in North Carolina.
Michael R. Calvin: / Senior Strategic Advisor, American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators: In recognition of your outstanding leadership, nationally and internationally, in developing uniform and consistent policies and procedures for training and licensing drivers of motor vehicles.
Kerry Chausmer / Certification Director, Safe Kids Worldwide: In recognition of your dedication and creative management of the National CPS Certification program and on-going commitment to improving child passenger safety.
C. Stephen Hooper / Operations Director, Division of Motor Vehicles, Colorado Department of Revenue: In recognition of your exemplary leadership to upgrade laws and implement programs to reduce impaired driving recidivism throughout Colorado.
Angela Osterhuber / Director, Pennsylvania Traffic Injury Prevention Project: In recognition of your innovative leadership and commitment to reducing crash injuries and fatalities for child passengers across the region.
Senator Mike Padden / Washington State Senate, 4th District: In recognition of your tireless and unending work to end tragedies related to alcohol abuse and DUI.
Brian and Yvette Pearse / K&J Foundation: In recognition of taking a personal tragedy and turning it into an opportunity to educate teens about the importance of always wearing seat belts in an effort to reduce teen motor vehicle injuries and deaths.
Chief Brett Railey / Winter Park Police Department: In recognition and appreciation for your extraordinary contributions and dedication to increasing traffic enforcement.
John Smith / Transportation Director, Northern Arapaho and Eastern Shoshone Tribes: In recognition of your leadership in the area of tribal transportation safety, through policy initiatives, promoting awareness, and coordination with State and Federal partners, and for bringing greater awareness to the transportation safety needs of Indian Country.
Southern Arizona DUI Task Force / In recognition of the combined efforts of the Southern Arizona DUI Task Force member agencies efforts to reduce DUI fatalities by more than 20 percent from 2008 to 2012.
The Limtiaco Company, Inc. / In recognition of your efforts in pedestrian safety that resulted in reductions in pedestrian injuries and fatalities among senior citizen and children in Hawaii.
Robert W. Welsh / Program Manager, Missouri Safety Center: In recognition of your outstanding dedication to the field of drug and alcohol impaired driving.

The purpose of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s Public Service Award is to recognize and honor an individual or organization who: 1) exemplifies high standards of achievements in the field of traffic safety, and 2) through his/her or the group’s accomplishments, has contributed to the quality of life in the community, state or nation. Nominations were limited to individuals and organizations who conduct these activities as volunteers or in a civic capacity. Award winners were nominated by NHTSA staff members and selected by senior NHTSA leadership.

Stay connected with NHTSA via: Facebook.com/NHTSA | Twitter.com/NHTSAgov | YouTube.com/USDOTNHTSA | SaferCar.gov