FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 3, 2008
Contact: Jonathan Adkins
jadkins@ghsa.org
(202)789-0942
State, National Traffic Safety Leaders to Convene in Scottsdale
New Teen Driving Report, 21-Drinking Age, Distracted Driving Among Issues on Agenda
WASHINGTON, D.C.—The Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA) and the Arizona Governor’s Highway Safety Office will host the annual GHSA meeting at the Fairmont Scottsdale September 7-10. Approximately 400 top highway safety and public health officials from across the country will be in attendance. General session speakers for the event include:
Monday, 9/8, Opening General Session, 8:15 a.m.-9:45 a.m.
- Victor Mendez, Director, Arizona Department of Transportation
- Roger Vanderpool, Director, Arizona Department of Public Safety
- Honorable James Ports, Deputy Administrator, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), Keynote Presentation
Tuesday, 9/9, General Session, 8:30 a.m.-10:00 a.m.
- Adrian Lund, President, Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. Dr. Lund will announce a new teen driving report and discuss evidence-based highway safety strategies.
- Susan Ferguson, Principal, Ferguson International, LLC. Dr. Ferguson is currently program manager for a multi-year research program for the development of advanced alcohol detection technology and seeks to develop in-vehicle technology that may prevent drunk driving.
- Robyn Robertson, President and CEO, Traffic Injury Research Foundation
Tuesday, 9/9, Highway Safety Awards Luncheon, 12:15 p.m-2:00 p.m.
National awards for achievement in highway safety will be presented. Special guest: recording artist and actress Kate Voegele. Ms. Voegele appears courtesy of Ford’s Driving Skills for Life program.
The 2008 GHSA conference, themed Turning Knowledge into Action, focuses on how to translate research into effective state highway safety programs. Workshops will address a multitude of traditional and emerging highway safety issues. Workshop topics include:
- Underage Drinking and the National Minimum Drinking Age
- Distracted and Inattentive Driving
- Making Teens Safer Drivers
- Improving Motorcycle Safety
- Use of Speed Cameras to Reduce Speeding-related Fatalities
- Implementing Ignition Interlocks for Drunk Driving Offenses
A conference program is available online at www.ghsa.org. News media representatives may call GHSA Communications Director Jonathan Adkins onsite in Scottsdale at 202-669-9746. General session and workshop speakers will be available to the media following their sessions.
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The Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA)® is a nonprofit association representing the highway safety offices of states, territories, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. GHSA provides leadership and representation for the states and territories to improve traffic safety, influence national policy and enhance program management. Its members are appointed by their Governors to administer federal and state highway safety funds and implement state highway safety plans. Contact GHSA at 202-789-0942 or visit www.ghsa.org.