Roadway Safety Awards
Each year, in conjunction with its Annual Meeting, GHSA recognizes various organizations and individuals that demonstrate exceptional leadership, innovation and impact in traffic safety with Roadway Safety Awards.
Governors Highway Safety Association
The States' Voice on Highway Safety
2026 Awards
GHSA's 2026 Roadway Safety Award winners were recognized during a breakfast, sponsored by Responsiblity.org and the National Road Safety Foundation, at the GHSA 2026 Annual Meeting in Minneapolis.
Kathryn J.R. Swanson Public Service Award
Michelle Anderson was selected for this award in recognition of more than three decades of sustained, meaningful service to roadway safety through her leadership at the National Road Safety Foundation (NRSF). Her work reflects an uncommon level of commitment to saving lives, not only through financial support and organizational partnerships, but through hands-on collaboration, strategic thinking and personal investment in programs that influence driver behavior and strengthen traffic safety education nationwide.
Innovative Partnership in Roadway Safety Award
By transforming real-world driver behavior data into actionable safety insights, CMT has helped SHSOs, state Departments of Transportation, GHSA and other partners better understand risks (like distracted driving, speeding and aggressive driving), evaluate the impact of hands-free laws and safety campaigns and target interventions where they can have the greatest benefit.
Peter. K. O’Rourke Special Achievement Awards
Dr. Saeed Barbat, Executive Technical Lead for Safety, Policy, and Vehicle AnalyticalTools at Ford Motor Company, was selected for a Peter. K. O’Rourke Special AchievementAward in recognition of his extraordinary contributions to roadway safety and vehiclecrash protection.
A 23-year law enforcement veteran and nationally recognized impaired-driving expert, Officer Jayme Derbyshire was selected for a Peter. K. O’Rourke Special Achievement Award in recognition of her efforts to advance traffic safety through innovative enforcement programs, policy leadership, research partnerships and community engagement.
The Prehospital Blood Transfusion Coalition was recognized for its groundbreaking work to expand access to prehospital blood transfusion across the United States, an innovation that is helping save the lives of people critically injured in motor-vehicle crashes and other traumatic events.
The Sudden Impact Program, developed by the University Medical Center New Orleans and the Louisiana State Police, and supported by the Louisiana Highway Safety Commission, was recognized for outstanding leadership in advancing traffic safety and injury prevention across Louisiana.
The Georgia Driver’s Education Commission Scholarship Program was recognized for its outstanding leadership in expanding access to lifesaving driver education for young Georgians.
