History

The Highway Safety Act of 1966 created a unique partnership among federal, state and local governments to address the problem of unsafe highways. The Act established the State and Community Highway Safety Grant Program (U.S.C. Title 23, Section 402), commonly known as the "402" program.

State Highway Safety Offices were created as a result of this legislation and were funded mainly with 402 funds. In each state and territory, governors select a Highway Safety Representative to administer the program.

In 1967, The National Conference of Governors' Highway Representatives–the predecessor to GHSA–was born when several state Highway Safety Representatives, realizing the need to share information and collectively work for national safety goals, decided to organize into a formal group.

The organization was incorporated in 1974 and received nonprofit status in 1976. In the ensuing years, its membership, expertise and influence grew. in 2002, the organization's name was changed to the Governors Highway Safety Association.