NHTSA 05-05
Monday, March 14, 2005
Contact: Ellen Martin
Tel.: (202) 366-9550

NHTSA Presents 18 Awards for Safety Accomplishments

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) today announced awards honoring 18 individuals and groups from across the nation for accomplishments in promoting highway safety.

The awards were presented at the 23rd Annual Lifesavers conference by NHTSA Administrator Jeffrey W. Runge, M.D., who delivered today’s luncheon speech.

“The work of saving lives on our highways cannot be done only from Washington. It is accomplished because of scientists, educators, engineers, enforcers, health care practitioners, and thoughtful citizens who care enough about the daily tragedies on our roadways to do something about it,” Dr. Runge said.

More than 1,800 participants are attending this year’s three-day Lifesavers conference, which features 85 workshops and 115 exhibitors. The meeting focuses on common-sense solutions to critical highway safety issues and is considered the leading event of its kind in the United States. Topics being covered include child passenger safety, occupant protection, and new vehicle safety technology.

The 18 individuals and organizations given highway safety awards are:

•Robert Bass, M.D., Director, Maryland Institute for Emergency Medical Services Systems, Baltimore, Maryland, for leadership, vision, and tireless efforts to improve and enhance emergency medical services across the United States.

•William G. Carlisle, City Councilman Emeritus, Anacortes, Washington, for dedication to the safety and well-being of the residents of Washington State and for elevating highway safety issues at the local and state levels.

•Gary Wright, Ames Alexander and Ted Melnik of The Charlotte Observer, Charlotte, North Carolina, for journalistic excellence focusing on impaired driving, a major public health and safety issue that affects everyone who drives or rides on the nation’s roadways.

•Vera Fullaway, Training Coordinator, CPS Team COLORADO, for more than 10 years of state, regional and national motor vehicle injury prevention work, and commitment to the safe transportation of children.

•Michele Grant, Occupational Health Specialist, Maine Department of Labor, Augusta, Maine, for success in making the Network of Employers for Traffic Safety a core element of Maine’s occupational safety and health program to protect all workers.

•Joel D. Hand, Highway Safety Resource Prosecutor, Indiana Prosecuting Attorney’s Council, Indianapolis, Indiana, for leadership in impaired driving prosecution, education, and training in the Great Lakes Region and the nation.

•Raymond Handy, Sr., 2003-2004 Lt. Governor, Missouri-Arkansas District of Kiwanis International, Kansas City, Missouri, for his dedication and that of his fellow Kiwanians to the promotion of the “Buckle Up Kids in Cars” program to save young lives.

•John Hood, Tennessee State Representative, Nashville, Tennessee, for outstanding legislative leadership and commitment to passage of the primary safety belt law in Tennessee.

•John Kaizuka, East Hawaii Health Educator, State Department of Health, Hilo, Hawaii, for initiative, dedication, and effective leadership in implementing child passenger safety and other traffic safety programs in Hawaii and the Pacific Rim.

•Major League Baseball, New York, New York, for exemplary and exceptional leadership in developing and implementing the “Responsibility Has Its Rewards” campaign at America’s ball fields, to improve roadway safety and save lives nationwide.

•Nancy Mathews, Ed.D., Executive Director, Campus-Community Coalition for Change, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, for tireless efforts to reduce underage and high-risk drinking through years of educating youth and community leaders, and developing positive environmental changes to cultural norms, policies, and practices.

•John E. Maupin, Jr., D.D.S., President, Meharry Medical College, Nashville, Tennessee, for outstanding leadership, commitment, and contributions to closing the gap in safety belt use in underserved populations.

•J.D. Meadows, West Virginia Law Enforcement Liaison, Beckley, West Virginia, for exceptional efforts in traffic safety to make West Virginia a safer place to live and travel.

•Recording Artists, Actors, and Athletes Against Drunk Driving, Studio City, California, for extraordinary vision and determination to address underage drinking and impaired driving, through ingenuity in creating highly successful national partnerships.

•Michael Scagnelli, Chief of Transportation, New York City Police Department, New York, New York, for leadership and innovation in ensuring the safety of New York City’s residents by reducing motor vehicle deaths and injuries.

•Michael R. Williams, Tennessee State Senator, Nashville, Tennessee, for outstanding legislative leadership and commitment to passage of a primary safety belt law in Tennessee.