Each year, at its Annual Meeting, GHSA recognizes various organizations and individuals for achievements in the field of highway safety. This page outlines the three GHSA awards and the most recent award winners.
The James J. Howard Highway Safety Trailblazer Award
The James J. Howard Highway
Safety Trailblazer Award is
GHSA's highest award. The
award honors an individual for
sustained outstanding leadership
in endeavors that significantly
improve highway safety.
Past winners of the James J. Howard Highway Safety Trailblazer Award include:
- 2007-Dr. Robert B. Voas, Maryland, for his work as one of the most well-respected and influential traffic safety
researchers in the country. Throughout his career, 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, studies of crossborder
underage binge drinking and differences between ethnic groups' involvement in alcohol-related fatal crashes.
- 2005-State Senator Ben Brown, Oklahoma, for his leadership in achieving occupant protection and DUI laws in
Oklahoma. For more than two decades, Senator Brown resolutely advocated for safety legislation. His commitment
led to key laws, including a primary safety belt law, a child passenger safety law and a strict zero-tolerance law for
youth.
- 2004-Dr. Marilyn Bull, Indiana, for 30 years of leadership in the field of child passenger safety (CPS). She developed
the premier hospital-based CPS program in the country as well as a program for safely transporting special needs
children. She also effectively lobbied for the enactment of laws to protect children.
- 2003-James Nichols, Virginia, for his service at NHTSA in developing and supporting numerous programs that
resulted in historic national gains in highway safety. Over the course of his career at NHTSA he played a central role
in developing a knowledge base about what problems the highway safety community faces and what countermeasures
are most effective.
About James J. Howard (1927-1988)
The career of Representative James J. Howard (D-NJ) was distinguished by
his steadfast commitment to highway safety issues. First elected to the U.S.
House of Representatives in 1964, Howard-who came to be known as "Mr.
Highway Safety"-was named chair of the Public Works and Transportation
Committee in 1980. Howard previously had chaired the Public Works Energy
Subcommittee where, in 1974, he introduced the idea of a 55-mile-perhour
speed limit. In addition, Howard authored an innovative coordinated
surface transportation policy and program.
Howard's other notable, enduring contributions to the fight for enhanced
highway safety include sponsorship of a myriad of bills, including: the
Howard-Barnes anti-drunk driving legislation (1982); the Child Restraint
Law (1984), which increased funding for state child passenger safety
programs; legislation establishing a uniform minimum drinking age of 21
(1984); the National Driver's Register (1982); and the Motor Carrier Act
(1980), which was the first regulatory reform of the trucking industry in half
a century that, among other things, increased federal aid for truck safety
programs. |
Oil on canvas, Keith Mueller, 1984, Collection of U.S. House of Representatives.
|
The Peter K. O'Rourke Special Achievement Award
The Peter K. O'Rourke Special
Achievement Awards recognize
notable achievements in the
field of highway safety by individuals, coalitions,
organizations, nonprofit groups,
businesses, government agencies,
universities or programs.
2007 Peter K. O'Rourke Special Achievement Award Winners
Past Award Winners >>
About Peter K. O'Rourke (1943-1996)
Peter K. O'Rourke, past GHSA chairman and highway safety leader,
began his career as a California highway patrolman, where he witnessed
the devastating consequences of vehicle crashes first-hand. He served to
make highways safer through many roles. He was director of the California
Office for Traffic Safety under two governors and was instrumental in the
passage of several important pieces of safety legislation. The national
respect gained from his commitment to highway safety led O'Rourke to be
elected chairman of GHSA by his peers. After leaving state government,
he served as vice president of The Century Council, where he worked on
prevention of underage drinking and drunk driving.
The Kathryn J.R. Swanson Public Service Award
GHSA's newest award, introduced in 2008, honors an individual who has made
notable improvements in the
management or implementation
of a highway safety program or
policy, or provided outstanding
service to GHSA, federal safety
agencies or other national
highway safety organizations.
About Kathryn J.R. Swanson (1954-2008)
Kathryn J. R. Swanson was a dedicated public servant whose passionate
commitment to highway safety guided her throughout her career.
From 1998 to 2007, she served as the Director of Minnesota's Office of
Traffic Safety in the state's Department of Public Safety. In her role as
director, Swanson administered the state and community highway safety
grant programs in Minnesota.
During her tenure, Minnesota achieved record high seat belt use and record
lows in fatalities. Kathy helped launch Minnesota's Toward Zero Deaths
program by collaborating with the "four E" agencies to encourage Minnesota
to achieve this ambitious goal.
Prior to being appointed Director, Swanson spent nearly 25 years in the
Office of Traffic Safety serving a variety of roles. As one of the longest tenured
members of the state highway safety community, Kathy's counsel was
frequently sought by other states and organizations around the country.
Swanson's success in Minnesota, her strong commitment to highway safety
and the respect and support of her state peers led to her being elected to
numerous positions within GHSA, including Chairman of the Association.
Under Swanson's leadership, GHSA developed its positions on the
reauthorization of the Transportation Equity Act of the 21st Century (TEA-
21) and actively advocated them before Congress. Swanson also urged
Congress to appropriate funds for highway safety programs in a more timely
manner.
