GHSA Highway Safety Awards
2007 Award Winners
Awards were presented during a Highway Safety Awards Luncheon on Tuesday, September 25, in conjunction with the 2007 GHSA Annual Meeting.
The 2007 James J. Howard Highway Safety Trailblazer Award Winner
Robert B. Voas, Ph.D.—One of the most well-respected and influential traffic safety researchers in the country, Dr. Voas' research projects have included national studies of the effect of .08 BAC law, zero-tolerance laws, vehicle sanction laws, alcohol ignition interlock laws, and studies of underage binge drinkers crossing the border to drink in Tijuana, where the drinking age is 18. He recently completed a national study of differences between ethnic groups in their involvement in alcohol-related fatal crashes. Learn More
The 2007 Peter K. O'Rourke Special Achievement Award Winners
The Century Council—The Century Council developed and implemented the first of its kind judicial education project to help judges effectively adjudicate hardcore drunk driver cases. The effort fills the gap of the surprising dearth of judicial education programs that specifically address the complexities of impaired driving cases. Learn More
Marshall Jespersen—As a trustee of the Massachusetts Auto Dealers Charitable Foundation, Marshall Jespersen made it his personal mission to expand the SkidSchool Advanced Driver Training program to reach more of the drivers who need it most. With Foundation funding used up, Jespersen devised a plan to ask dealerships to directly sponsor sessions. He persuaded them to make a sizable investment to reach young drivers. Learn More
Kentucky Governor Ernest L. Fletcher—In 2005, Kentucky experienced the most fatalities on its highways since 1973. Governor Ernie Fletcher responded to this tragedy by making highway safety one his highest priorities. Under his leadership, the Commonwealth has made great strides in improving the lives of all Kentuckians with stronger highway safety measures. Learn More
Maryland, Virginia, Pennsylvania and the District of Columbia Highway Safety Offices-Smooth Operator Program—To combat the agressive driving behavior prevalent in an area beset with some of the worst traffic congestion in the country, Mid-Atlantic traffic safety experts banded together to createthe Smooth Operator Program, a unique public safety initiative that provides education, information and solutions for the problem of aggressive driving. Learn More
Under the leadership of Chief Jerry Dyer, the Fresno Police Department has worked tirelessly towards reducing fatal and injury collisions through its H.E.A.R.T. (Help Eliminate Alcohol Re-Offender Team) project grant. Since the program’s inception in 2003, there has been a 60 percent decline in alcohol-related fatalities and a 12 percent reduction in alcohol-related injuries. Learn More