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8:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. — GHSA Executive Board Meeting
(Board Members only)
6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. — Highway Safety Champion Reception with the GHSA Executive Board and Sponsors
(Invitation only)
8:00 a.m. – 6:30 p.m. — Registration
8:30 a.m. – 9:30 a.m. — State Member Orientation
(State Highway Safety Office Members only)
9:45 a.m. – 10:45 a.m. — Regional Meetings
(State Highway Safety Office Members only)
11:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. — GHSA Business Meeting
(State Highway Safety Office Members only)
12:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. — Exhibitor Move In
5:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. — Welcome Reception in Exhibit Hall
(Open to all attendees; registered attendees can purchase additional tickets for spouses/guests)
7:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. — Registration
7:30 a.m. – 5:15 p.m. — Exhibits Open
7:30 a.m. – 8:30 a.m. — Continental Breakfast in Exhibit Hall
8:30 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. — Opening General Session
GHSA is inviting senior leadership from government, advocacy and industry to open this year's conference and discuss how we need to devote more attention and resources to preventing crashes, deaths and injuries on our nation's roads.
Speakers include Bob Holycross, Vice President, Sustainability, Environment and Safety Engineering, Ford Motor Company.
Presentation of the Colors: New York State Police Color Guard
10:30 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. — Morning Break in Exhibit Hall
11:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. — Workshop 1: Serving the Underserved: Highway Safety Engagement in New Communities
Majestic Complex (6th Floor)
States and communities are increasingly engaging directly with members of the public to bolster their participation in highway safety planning and help enrich the delivery of highway safety services. Learn how safety advocates are building relationships with new communities by educating them about two critical safety issues – vehicle recalls and child passenger safety – as well as how to support highway safety initiatives among Native American populations.
11:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. — Workshop 2: On the Level: Reaching New Communities and Communicating about Evolving Automotive Safety Technology
Shubert Complex (6th Floor)
Automotive safety technology is constantly evolving, with new advancements and innovations developed nearly every day. It is crucial to educate motorists about the benefits and safe use of these features. Three national experts will discuss best practices for communicating about automotive technology and expanding the safety benefits through greater access.
11:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. — Workshop 3: Breaking Through the Clutter: Public Communications to Launch a New Awakening in Traffic Safety
Empire Complex (7th Floor)
With traffic deaths at historic highs and a recent rise in dangerous driving behaviors, the importance of traffic safety can often be lost in the wider social consciousness. Join with a panel of safety advocates and expert communicators to explore how the safety community can work together to launch a new traffic safety awakening among policymakers, the media and the public.
11:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. — Workshop 4: Impaired Driving: Issues and Opportunities on the Cutting Edge
Julliard Complex (5th Floor)
Impaired driving remains an ongoing threat to motorists, and states and communities across the country are grappling with a range of emerging issues. Learn how states are preparing for cannabis legalization, the tips for avoiding safety pitfalls from early state adopters and about state licensing agency resources and activities to improve the administration of ignition interlock programs.
12:30 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. — Lunch in Exhibit Hall
2:00 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. — Workshop 5: Preparing to Take the Keys: Innovation in Novice Driver Education and Training
Majestic Complex (6th Floor)
Younger drivers are more likely to be involved in crashes, but research confirms a lower risk for young drivers who completed driver education and training, which teach concepts like driver responsibility, vehicle control and defensive driving strategies to reduce risky behaviors. National experts will discuss hands-on activities included in successful training programs and share insights about the importance of experiential learning in helping teens become safer and responsible drivers.
2:00 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. — Workshop 6: SLOW DOWN! for this Speed Session
Shubert Complex (6th Floor)
Speeding is one of the most prevalent and pervasive traffic safety problems - and it's been that way for years. With new momentum behind the Safe System approach and its call for "safer speeds," how can we achieve the goal? Learn about new, innovative technology being deployed within New York City, automated enforcement in work zones and state and regional campaigns designed to put the brakes on speeding fatalities.
2:00 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. — Workshop 7: Mobility, Access and Safety
Julliard Complex (5th Floor)
People with disabilities and older adults have unique mobility needs. These underserved groups traditionally have not always been involved in transportation safety planning efforts that directly affect them. Join this important discussion that will explore safe walking, driving and other mobility opportunities for these individuals and how to involve them in planning, outreach and educational activities.
3:30 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. — Afternoon Break in Exhibit Hall
4:00 p.m. – 5:15 p.m. — Afternoon General Session: Creating and Sustaining a Highway Safety Dialogue with Diverse Communities
Data show that minority populations are overrepresented in traffic crashes, and we know that many communities are not reaping the benefits of traffic safety initiatives. National advocates will discuss how to engage more diverse communities and stakeholders in discussions about traffic safety to ensure that services are provided to those that need them the most.
Speakers include:
- Stacey D. Stewart, Chief Executive Officer, Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD)
- April Rai, President and CEO, Conference of Minority Transportation Officials (COMTO)
7:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. — Registration
7:30 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. — Exhibits Open
7:30 a.m. – 8:30 a.m. — Continental Breakfast in Exhibit Hall
8:30 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. — Morning General Session: An Early Report Card on the Safe System Approach
In 2022, the U.S. Department of Transportation adopted the Safe System approach as the national model for highway safety in its National Roadway Safety Strategy. While advocate and government agencies have embraced the Safe System approach nationwide, what progress have we made on implementing this new framework? National experts will discuss what steps they’ve taken and will need to take going forward to put the Safe System into practice.
Speakers include:
- Lynda Tran, Director of Public Engagement and Senior Advisor, U.S. Department of Transportation
- Toks Omishakin, Secretary, California State Transportation Agency
- Lorraine M. Martin, President and CEO, National Safety Council
10:00 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. — Morning Break in Exhibit Hall
10:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. — Workshop 8: Serve and Protect: Innovative Practices in Traffic Enforcement Equity and Engagement
Majestic Complex (6th Floor)
The national discussion over policing has put traffic enforcement at an inflection point, with states and communities considering and implementing a range of new strategies to achieve more equitable outcomes. Learn about new law enforcement best practices, programs, training and reform, as well as a national gold-standard approach to leveraging federal funding to collect and analyze traffic stop data.
10:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. — Workshop 9: The Big Picture: Behavior and Other Elements in the Safe System Approach
Shubert Complex (6th Floor)
Nations, states and communities around the globe are rethinking the big picture on highway safety by carefully applying a Safe System approach. Safety experts will discuss how to ensure behavioral safety remains a key part of safety planning and programs, as well as innovative approaches to implementing a holistic Safe System on our roadways.
10:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. — Workshop 10: Detection and Prevention: Technologies to Prevent Impaired Driving
Empire Complex (7th Floor)
Responding to impaired driving, especially drug- and polysubstance-impaired driving, requires new approaches. Hear about resources available to states and communities to bolster the detection of impaired drivers, as well as an update on the national race to introduce new technologies to passively detect alcohol impairment and prevent drunk driving before it can occur.
10:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. — Workshop 11: Distracted Driving Breakout Rodeo
Julliard Complex (5th Floor)
Combating distracted driving on the road not only requires innovative countermeasures, but also an innovative workshop format! Instead of presentations or a panel discussion, join one of four rotating mini-discussion groups, where you’ll directly interact with and learn from practitioners implementing an array of innovative programs designed to change the social norm.
11:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. — Exhibit Hall Tear Down/Move Out
12:15 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. — Awards and Networking Luncheon
Join us as we honor the 2023 recipients of the James J. Howard Highway Safety Trailblazer Award, the Kathryn J.R. Swanson Public Service Award and the Peter K. O’Rourke Special Achievement Awards. Network with old colleagues and make new friends while enjoying a delicious lunch. Ann Carlson, Chief Counsel for the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, will speak.
2:00 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. — Workshop 12: Staying Safe Outside the Vehicle
Majestic Complex (6th Floor)
Pedestrians, bicyclists and other non-motorized and low-speed road users are in constant danger due to inadequate infrastructure and dangerous driving. What can be done to better protect people outside motor vehicles? Advocates will share how they are implementing programs in new and underserved communities to keep walkers, bikers, scooters and all road users safe from vehicle traffic.
2:00 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. — Workshop 13: Drug Recognition Experts: An Evaluation of the Future
Shubert Complex (6th Floor)
With drug- and multi-substance impaired driving increasing across the country, law enforcement Drug Recognition Experts (DRE) are more important than ever. Explore the history of the DRE program along with current challenges and learn how State Highway Safety Offices can support and collaborate with state DRE Coordinators. Experts will also share resources available to states to bolster their impaired driving prevention programs.
2:00 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. — Workshop 14: Culture Shock: Evidence-Based Strategies to Reverse the Nation's Lagging Traffic Safety Culture
Empire Complex (7th Floor)
Underlying all behavioral highway safety efforts is a traffic safety culture that unfortunately remains poor among many drivers. Learn about evidence-based campaigns to change driver behavior, how one state has invested in a statewide Vision Zero program, how positive traffic safety culture can be instilled in novice drivers, and federal approaches to the issue.
5:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. — Taste of the State Reception
(Open to all attendees; registered attendees can purchase additional tickets for spouses/guests)
8:30 a.m. – 8:45 a.m. — Morning Coffee
8:45 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. — Morning General Session: A Right to the Road
Walking, biking, using a scooter and other forms of non-motorized, low-speed travel are more popular than ever, but we continue to experience an ongoing national crisis of drivers striking and killing people outside of vehicles. Using a town hall format, a panel of experts will join with the audience to discuss what must be done to protect all road users in a variety of communities and roadway environments.
Speakers include:
- Amy Cohen, Co-Founder, Families for Safe Streets
- Nanda Srinivasan, Associate Administrator, Research and Program Development, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
- Jaime Sullivan, P.E., Director, National Center for Rural Road Safety
10:15 a.m. – 11:45 a.m. — Workshop 15: Achieving Excellence in Highway Safety Criminal Justice in 2023
Majestic Complex (6th Floor)
Criminal justice is a key component of highway safety but police officers, prosecutors, judges and others in the traffic safety community face renewed internal and external pressures and challenges. Representatives involved in traffic safety interdiction, prosecution and adjudication will discuss strategies to shape a more successful, serviceable and equitable criminal justice system.
10:15 a.m. – 11:45 a.m. — Workshop 16: Traffic Safety Communications: New Challenges and New Solutions
Shubert Complex (6th Floor)
With additional federal safety funding and a mandate to reach more communities, what communications strategies can State Highway Safety Offices and their partners use to reduce fatalities and serious injuries? Hear from experts in communications and media about the importance of the youth perspective in traffic safety, how to reach and engage with Tribal communities, an example of a successful and wide-reaching seat belt campaign and how states can work with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to utilize federal resources.
10:15 a.m. – 11:45 a.m. — Workshop 17: Innovation in Automation: Alerts, Enforcement and Mobility
Empire Complex (7th Floor)
Highway safety programs are increasingly optimized by new technologies that leverage automated processes, monitoring, sensors and alerts. Learn about a range of services and partnerships available to State Highway Safety Offices that can be leveraged to make safety programs more successful, efficient and cost-effective.
12:00 p.m. – 1:45 p.m. — Closing Luncheon
Al Roker, co-host of NBC’s TODAY, New York Times best-selling author, weatherperson extraordinaire and 14-time Emmy winner, will speak about overcoming adversity, rising to meet new challenges, and how to create connections with new people and communities.