GHSA Highway Safety Awards
2008 Award Winners
Awards were presented during GHSA's Highway Safety Awards Luncheon on Tuesday, September 9, in conjunction with the 2008 GHSA Annual Meeting.
The 2008 James J. Howard Highway Safety Trailblazer Award Winner
Lt. Col. James E. Champagne—In his more than 40-year career, Jim Champagne has brought unmatched commitment, passion and zeal to highway safety.
As a state trooper, in various positions in the Louisiana State Police leadership, as the state’s Governor’s Highway Safety Representative (GR) and as chairman of GHSA, Champagne’s dedication and perseverance have resulted in countless lives being saved. Learn More
The 2008 Kathryn J.R. Swanson Public Service Award Winner
Philip W. Haseltine—The inaugural Kathryn J.R. Swanson Public Service Award is presented to Phil Haseltine for his lifetime of service to highway safety.
Swanson was a dedicated public servant whose strong commitment to highway safety guided her throughout her career. Haseltine embodies what Swanson most passionately stood for: occupant protection, sensible solutions to saving lives and strengthening safety organizations to achieve ambitious goals. Learn More
The 2008 Peter K. O'Rourke Special Achievement Award Winners
Joseph A. Farrow—As a member of the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) Law Enforcement Stops and Safety Subcommittee, California Highway Patrol Commissioner Joseph A. Farrow spearheaded the implementation of the successful P.U.R.S.U.E. roll-call training video in California. The 19-minute DVD uses the acronym P.U.R.S.U.E. (Prepare, Understand, Respond, Stop, Utilize, and Examine) to identify factors in pursuit decision making. Learn More
Safe Kids Buckle Up—Safe Kids Buckle Up, a joint venture between Safe Kids
Worldwide and General Motors, is the largest child
passenger safety program of its kind, teaching parents and
caregivers how to correctly use car seats, booster seats and
seat belts. The program also provides car seats to families
in need at little or no cost. In 2007, the Safe Kids Buckle Up program reached a significant milestone: 10 years of inspecting child safety seats. Learn More
Pennsylvania Occupant Protection Program—In 2007, Pennsylvania’s statewide seat belt usage rate reached an all time high of 86.7 percent—a phenomenal 17 percent gain over its 2000 belt usage rate. This achievement is particularly notable given that Pennsylvania is a secondary seat belt law state. This increase was the result of a well-coordinated and multifaceted occupant protection program. Learn More
E.A.S.Y. – ParentsEmpowered.org—Eliminating Alcohol Sales to Youth (E.A.S.Y.) – ParentsEmpowered.org is a unique program that works toward eliminating underage drinking in Utah through total community mobilization. In response to an alarming increase in alcohol use by young adults and more DUI arrests of individuals under 21, the Utah State Legislature passed the Eliminating Alcohol Sales to Youth (E.A.S.Y.) law. Learn More
West Virginia LifeSavers Program—West Virginia’s LifeSavers Program is a homegrown, creative solution to improving seat belt use that has demonstrated its effectiveness when combined with other behavioral countermeasures. Learn More