State, National Leaders to Address Traffic Safety and Homeland Security; Missouri Governor, DOT Administrators Among Speakers

9/5/2002

From: Jonathan Adkins of the Governors Highway Safety Association, 202-789-0942

ST. LOUIS, Sept. 5 -- Missouri Governor Bob Holden, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) Administrator Jeff Runge and Federal Highway Administration Deputy Administrator Rick Capka will discuss their highway safety programs and policies with more than 300 top transportation and public health officials from across the country at the Governors Highway Safety Association's Annual Meeting at the Hyatt Regency in St. Louis, Missouri, September 8-11, 2002. "Safe and Secure Roadways: A Vision for the Future" will focus on the dramatic changes to traffic safety enforcement since 9/11, upcoming federal legislation to continue highway safety funding and the continuing efforts to influence "hard-to-reach" drivers.

Since the terrorist attacks last year, new security measures have made a significant impact on various aspects of traffic safety. The consequences of these new measures on law enforcement priorities and strategies will be addressed in several of the fifteen workshops being offered. During Monday's opening general session, Governor Holden is expected to touch on how these new priorities have affected traffic safety efforts in Missouri, while Runge and Capka are expected to discuss these issues from the national perspective. At Wednesday's general session, Lonnie Westphal of the International Association of Chiefs of Police will speak on safety and security from the point of view of law enforcement. He will share his thoughts on the 9/11 anniversary and how law enforcement is balancing the demands of traffic safety enforcement with homeland security.

The reauthorization of the Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century (TEA-21) will highlight Tuesday's general session. TEA-21 was passed in 1998 and largely funds the nation's highway safety efforts. Key interest groups will share their reauthorization positions. Speaking will be: Wendy Hamilton, National President of Mothers Against Drunk Driving; Frank Shafroth, Director of State Federal Relations for the National Governors Association; and Bruce Warner, Chairman of the American Association of State Highway Transportation Official's Standing Committee on Highway Traffic Safety.

Workshops will also focus on different highway risk target groups-impaired drivers, distracted drivers, older drivers and unbuckled drivers. A sampling of workshop topics include:

-- New Issues Affecting the War of Drunk Driving (Beer Tax Reduction and Alcohol Advertising) -- Reducing Drunk Driving: What's It Going to Take? -- Distracted Driving Policies and Research: What's New? -- Emerging Technology as Tools for Safety -- Helping Provide Safer Roads for Older Drivers -- Taking Child Passenger Safety to the Next Level

This year's Annual Meeting marks the beginning of a new era in the life of the Association. Effective September 1st, the organization changed its name from the National Association of Governors' Highway Safety Representatives (NAGHSR) to the Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA). The shorter name better reflects the Association's identity as the collective voice for states on highway safety.

The 2002 GHSA Annual Meeting is hosted by the Missouri Division of Highway Safety. Corporate partners participating in this year's event include: Air Bag & Seat Belt Safety Campaign, Anheuser Busch, Inc., AT&T Wireless Services, Inc., Cellular Telecommunications & Internet Association, Automotive Coalition for Traffic Safety, The Century Council, Consensus Consortium Inc., DaimlerChrysler Corporation, Farmers Insurance Group, Ford Motor Company, General Motors, Honda North America, Inc., Johnson & Johnson, Laser Technology, Inc., Mitsubishi Motors, Nationwide, Porsche Foundation, Rubber Manufacturers Association, State Farm Insurance Companies, and Toyota Motor Sales.

GHSA is a nonprofit association representing the highway safety offices of states, territories, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the Indian Nations. Its members are appointed by their governors to administer federal and state highway safety funds and implement state highway safety plans.

For a complete listing of session topics and speakers, visit www.statehighwaysafety.org. For further information or for media availability, call Jonathan Adkins at 202-789-0942. After 9/6/02, please contact by cell phone at 202-439-0211.