NHTSA Awards Recognize Efforts to Make Roadways Safer

Topics:  Lifesavers

NHTSA
April 12, 2010

NHTSA 02-10
Monday, April 12, 2010
Contact: Julia Piscitelli
Telephone: (202) 366-9550

PHILADELPHIA -- The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) today presented awards honoring 19 individuals and one organization for exemplary achievements in promoting highway safety. One of the 19, New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson, was given the Safety Champion award for his extraordinary efforts in reducing alcohol-impaired driving throughout his tenure as Governor.

The awards were presented at Lifesavers 2010, the 28th annual Lifesavers conference. Lifesavers is an independent group dedicated to reducing transportation related deaths.

"Safety is Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood's highest priority, and each of you earning these awards today made safety your priority as well," said NHTSA Administrator David Strickland. "By getting involved in your communities you've elevated safety, saved lives and prevented many deaths and injuries on our nation's roadways."

Lifesavers 2010 expects to bring in hundreds of people for workshops and to share information on a wide range of safety topics. Attendees include people from community traffic safety programs, state and local emergency medical services, injury prevention programs, state and local law enforcement, federal and state highway agencies, prosecutors and judges, and the automotive and insurance industry. While there, attendees will view multiple exhibits dealing with traffic safety products and programs.

The names of the individuals and organization honored and plaque citations are as follows:

The Honorable Bill Richardson, Governor of New Mexico, Santa Fe, New Mexico. Safety Champion Award. In recognition of your extraordinary leadership, personal advocacy, and innovative policies to reduce alcohol-impaired driving crashes and fatalities in the State of New Mexico throughout your term as Governor.
State Representative Fred Allen, Arkansas House of Representatives, District 33, Little Rock, Arkansas. In recognition of your leadership and commitment to saving lives and reducing injuries in Arkansas by sponsoring a primary seat belt law.
The Honorable Jim Doyle, Governor of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin. In recognition of your leadership role in guiding Wisconsin to enact and enforce a primary seat belt law.
Assemblyman Mike Feuer, California State Assembly, District 42, West Hollywood, California. In recognition of your dedication to stopping DUI and saving lives in California through the introduction and passage of bold legislation requiring ignition interlocks for convicted drunk drivers.
State Representative Richard Glorioso, Florida House of Representatives, District 62, Plant City, Florida. In recognition of your leadership and commitment to saving lives and reducing injuries in Florida by sponsoring a primary seat belt law.
Captain Howard B. Hall, Baltimore County Police Department, Baltimore, Maryland. In recognition of your leadership and innovation in developing and implementing the Data-Driven Approaches to Crime and Traffic Safety model for the Baltimore County Police Department.
State Senator Anthony Hill, Florida State Senator, District 1, Jacksonville, Florida. In recognition of your leadership and commitment to saving lives and reducing injuries in Florida by sponsoring a primary seat belt law.
Timothy S. Hollister, Attorney, Shipman & Goodwin, LLP, Hartford, Connecticut. In recognition of your steadfast advocacy for teen driving safety and extraordinary efforts to assist parents in making informed decisions about safe teen driving.
Vinita Howard, Traffic Safety Advocate, Salem, Oregon. In recognition of your continued dedication to saving lives on Oregon's roadways.
Judge Larry Long, Second Judicial Circuit, Pierre, South Dakota. In recognition of your creation and implementation of the successful 24/7 defendant sobriety program to keep DUI offenders sober, and minimize the risk they pose to other drivers on South Dakota roadways.
State Senator Steve Murphy, Minnesota State Senate, District 28, Red Wing, Minnesota. In recognition of your leadership and commitment to saving lives and reducing injuries in Minnesota by sponsoring a primary seat belt law.
State Representative Kim Norton, Minnesota House of Representatives, District 29B,Rochester, Minnesota. In recognition of your leadership and commitment to saving lives and reducing injuries in Minnesota by sponsoring a primary seat belt law.
State Senator Nan Rich, Florida State Senator, District 34, Sunrise, Florida. In recognition of your leadership and commitment to saving lives and reducing injuries in Florida by sponsoring a primary seat belt law.
Lenny Rosado, Traffic Safety Advocate, New York, New York. In recognition of your devotion to making New York roads safer for children and all other citizens by enabling Leandra's Law.
Richard Roth, Ph.D., President, Impact DWI, Santa Fe, New Mexico. In recognition of your promotion of the adoption of ignition interlock laws in New Mexico and other states.
Joseph W. Thompson, M.D., M.PH., Arkansas Surgeon General and Director, Arkansas Center for Health Improvement, Little Rock, Arkansas. In recognition of your leadership and commitment to saving lives and reducing injuries in Arkansas by supporting a primary seat belt law.
Steve O'Toole, Retired, General Motors, Director, Legislative and Regulatory Affairs -Safety, Reston, Virginia. In recognition of your long-time commitment to improving traffic safety and fostering safety efforts that have saved thousands of lives.
State Senator Henry "Hank" Wilkins, IV, Arkansas State Senator, District 5, Pine Bluff, Arkansas. In recognition of your leadership and commitment to saving lives and reducing injuries in Arkansas by sponsoring a primary seat belt law.
Judge Thomas M. Yeager, Ninth Judicial District of Louisiana, Alexandria, Louisiana. In recognition of your many innovative approaches to deterring driving while intoxicated in Louisiana.
Automotive Safety Program, Riley Hospital for Children, Indianapolis, Indiana. In recognition of sustained commitment to the safe transportation of children with special needs and to innovative ideas to improve child passenger safety programs.