State, National Traffic Safety Leaders to Convene in New Orleans 8/22/2003
From: Jonathan Adkins of the Governors Highway Safety Association, 202-669-9746 NEW ORLEANS, Aug. 22 -- National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) Administrator Dr. Jeff Runge and National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) Chairman Ellen Engleman will discuss their highway safety initiatives and priorities with more than 400 top transportation and public health officials from across the country at the Governors Highway Safety Association's (GHSA) Annual Meeting at the Sheraton New Orleans, Louisiana, August 24-27, 2003. "Risks, Remedies, & Reauthorization" will focus on the latest challenges and solutions in highway safety. Much of the meeting's focus will be on the reauthorization of the Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century, known as TEA-21. This multi-billon dollar legislation, which expires at end of next month, currently funds the large majority of state highway safety programs. Dr. Runge's presentation on Monday will focus on his top priorities for NHTSA as well as the challenges the safety community faces including a recent increase in alcohol-related traffic deaths. Dr. Runge is also expected to discuss the Bush Administration's proposal for reauthorizing TEA-21. Ms. Engleman will likely share NTSB's assessment of the current traffic safety climate as well as discuss recent NTSB recommendations on issues such as cell phones and driving and drunk driving laws. The host of the 2003 GHSA Meeting is Colonel Jim Champagne, Executive Director of the Louisiana Highway Safety Commission. Col. Champagne also serves as the Vice Chair of GHSA. He says, "Louisiana is honored to host this meeting at such an important time in the traffic safety effort. In Louisiana, like in other states, a tremendous amount of progress has been made which has meant lives being saved. At the same time, much more work needs to be done and we look forward to discussing the most pressing traffic safety issues of the day." Tuesday's general session will focus solely on the TEA-21 reauthorization. Key interest groups will share their reauthorization positions. Speaking will be: Wendy Hamilton, National President of Mothers Against Drunk Driving; Diane Steed, President and Chief Executive Officer of the American Highway Users Alliance and Tony Kane, Director of Engineering and Technical Services for the American Association of State Highway Transportation Officials. Workshops will also focus on different highway risk target groups-drunk or drugged drivers, distracted drivers, and red-light runners. A sampling of workshop topics include: -- The Pro's and Con's of Automated Enforcement -- New Research on Distracted Driving -- Drug Impaired Driving: Are Per Se Laws the Answer? -- Effective Programs for Reaching Teen Drivers -- Hot Topics in Impaired Driving -- The Latest Research on Child Passenger Safety Sponsors of the meeting include: ACS, Inc., Air Bag & Seat Belt Safety Campaign, American Trucking Association, Association of American Railroads, AT&T Wireless Services, Inc., Automotive Coalition for Traffic Safety, The Century Council, Continental Teves, Inc., DaimlerChrysler Corporation, Farmers Insurance Group, Ford Motor Company, General Motors, Honda North America, Inc., Johnson & Johnson, Liberty Mutual, Nationwide, 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 http://www.ghsa.org. Media wishing to attend the GHSA Meeting should contact Jonathan Adkins on-site in New Orleans at 202-669-9746. |