Traffic safety will be in the spotlight in Pittsburgh August 23-27 as leaders from across the country gather to build on recent safety momentum and save more lives.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Adam Snider (GHSA), 202-365-8971
GHSA’s Annual Meeting will highlight innovative technologies, the role of traffic enforcement and how to build on recent safety progress
WASHINGTON, D.C. – The nation’s top roadway safety leaders will meet for the Governors Highway Safety Association’s (GHSA) 2025 Annual Meeting, August 23-27 in Pittsburgh, to share best practices and new tools that can make U.S. roads safer. The meeting, hosted by the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, comes as State Highway Safety Offices (SHSOs) are working to expand on recent safety momentum, reduce dangerous driving and save more lives.
Peter Simshauser, Chief Counsel of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), will help kick off the conference at the Opening General Session on Monday, August 25. He’ll discuss the agency's focus on roadway safety, support of law enforcement and reducing unnecessary administrative burdens for SHSOs. AAA President and CEO Gene Boehm will speak about AAA’s roadway safety priorities, his vision for safety and partnerships with SHSOs.
Later that day, Nicole Malachowski, the first female pilot on the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds Air Demonstration Squadron, will share her inspirational story about overcoming adversity. Malachowski is a combat veteran and inductee into both the National Women’s Hall of Fame and the Women in Aviation International Pioneer Hall of Fame.
Leading data and technology experts will speak about how telematics and other innovative tools are being used to make roads safer on Tuesday, August 26. Panelists include Kristin Smith, Head of Global Road Safety Policy, Uber; Ryan McMahon, Senior Vice President of Strategy and Corporate Development, Cambridge Mobile Telematics; Judy Stover, Director, Telematics-Personal Lines, Nationwide; and Anderson Abernathy, President and Chief Operating Officer, Michelin Mobility Intelligence.
On Wednesday, August 27, GHSA will honor people and organizations making a significant impact on safety at the 2025 Roadway Safety Awards sponsored by the National Road Safety Foundation and Responsibility.org. GHSA will recognize winners of the James J. Howard Highway Safety Trailblazer Award, the Kathryn J.R. Swanson Public Service Award, the Peter K. O'Rourke Special Achievement Awards and GHSA's newest award, the Innovative Partnership in Roadway Safety Award. Information about the winners will be posted on the GHSA website after the ceremony.
The conference will close with a forward-looking discussion about what the future holds for roadway safety, featuring speakers that are leading the way in bringing innovative safety initiatives to U.S. roads. Panelists include David Kelly, Vice President, Government Solutions, Acusensus; Rick Birt, Director, District of Columbia Highway Safety Office; Chris Mullen, Senior Director, Enterprise Safety, Aurora; and Andres Castrillon, Senior Director, Government Affairs, Qualcomm.
In addition to the general sessions, 17 workshops will feature experts from across the country who are working to address critical traffic safety issues, giving attendees a deep dive into an array of complex and critical safety topics. Areas covered include but are not limited to helping law enforcement officers tell their safety story, reducing impaired driving recidivism, working with social media influencers, innovative pedestrian safety programs, and integrating behavioral and infrastructure safety approaches. There will also be information exchanges for safety experts to share success stories, ask questions of each other and network.
GHSA’s Annual Meeting is supported by almost 50 national organizations committed to improving traffic safety, including Abbott, Alliance Highway Safety, Amazon, Cambridge Mobile Telematics, Ford Philanthropy, General Motors, Hyundai, LexisNexis, Mazda, Michelin Mobility Intelligence, Mindr, the National Road Safety Foundation, Nationwide, Obvio, Qualcomm, Responsibility.org, SCRAM Systems + LifeSafer, Smart Start, State Farm, Uber and Waymo.
This year’s Annual Meeting is one of the best attended conferences in GHSA history. A detailed meeting agenda is available on the GHSA website. Reporters should contact Adam Snider for press credentials. Many general session and workshop speakers will be available for interviews onsite in Pittsburgh.
# # #
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, enhance program management and promote best practices. Its members are appointed by their Governors to administer federal and state highway safety funds and implement state highway safety plans.
