GHSA 2024
Workshops
Seventeen GHSA 2024 Annual Meeting workshops across three days will dive deep into a wide array of traffic safety topics.
To see the full agenda please click here.
Monday, September 9
WORKSHOP BLOCK 1
Monday 10:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Teen Driver Safety: Where Do We Go from Here?
JW Grand Ballroom 1
We’ve made significant gains in teen driver safety over the past 20 years, but more remains to be done. The key findings and recommendations in GHSA’s October 2023 Teen Spotlight report will be the basis for a lively conversation between a panel of experts and the audience. Discussion topics will include strengthening GDL laws, bolstering parent involvement, making driver education and training accessible to all, making peer-to-peer programs impactful, increasing understanding of vehicle technology and more. Moderator: Jaime Pelotte, Grant Manager, Maine Bureau of Highway Safety Speakers: • Jessica Cicchino, Vice President of Research, Insurance Institute for Highway Safety • Pam Shadel Fischer, Senior Director of External Engagement, Governors Highway Safety Association • Lisa Minjares-Kyle, Program Director, Texas Transportation Institute • Joe Provenzano, Mobility and Volunteer Director, Ford Philanthropy • Brett Robinson, Executive Director, ADTSEA
Safer Cars, Safer Communities: The SHSO Role in Promoting Vehicle Safety Technology
JW Grand Ballroom 2
The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act gives State Highway Safety Offices (SHSOs) the option to use Section 402 funding to educate drivers about vehicle safety technology in support of the safe vehicle component of the Safe System approach. A panel of communications experts representing SHSOs, the automotive industry and research groups will discuss the current state of vehicle technology, what’s on the horizon and how SHSOs can help drivers understand what their vehicle’s safety features are – and aren’t – capable of. Moderator: Daniel Zimmerman, Senior Director of Government Relations and Policy, Governors Highway Safety Association Speakers: • Tara Andringa, Executive Director, Partners for Automated Vehicle Education • Jennifer Morrison, Head of Vehicle Safety, Mazda North America Operations • Russ Rader, Senior Vice President, Communications, Insurance Institute for Highway Safety • Tim Weisberg, Deputy Director, Marketing and Public Affairs, California Office of Traffic Safety
A Candid Discussion with Leaders in Law Enforcement on Equitable Service
JW Grand Ballroom 3
A diverse group of law enforcement leaders will have an honest and open dialogue on equity in policing in 2024. We’ll explore where we’ve been and are headed, traditional and new approaches to community policing and what’s working in the panelists’ own communities to strengthen support for law enforcement. You’ll take away new ideas for conducting equitable policing in your community or state and leave with new connections who can help you turn those ideas into reality. Moderator: Cynthia Spriggs, Pedestrian/Bicycle/Speed/Aggressive Programs Manager, Maryland Department of Transportation – Motor Vehicle Administration – Maryland Highway Safety Office Speakers: • Alexander Jones, Chief of Police, City of Arlington, Texas • Vanessa Matthews. Division Director, Treatment Court Institute, AllRise • Kevin Teaford, Retired Colonel, Ohio State Police • Keith Williams, Chief, Enforcement and Justice Services Division, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
10 Years After Cannabis Legalization: Innovative Strategies to Bolster Your State’s Impaired Driving Program
JW Grand Ballroom 4
Impaired driving continues to be a thorny problem and some states are experimenting with new approaches to education, enforcement and adjudication. Generation Z are the first Coloradans to have grown up after recreational cannabis was legalized, so what can we learn from them as we work to prevent cannabis-impaired driving? In Minnesota, dedicated, grant-funded DWI Officers are removing impaired drivers from the road at record rates. What has made this program successful? Louisiana used a grant to fund an “on-call toxicologist” who provided expert testimony for DUID court cases in the state’s remote parishes. Could a similar program be possible in your state? Moderator: Nick White, Impaired Driving Program Coordinator, Minnesota Office of Traffic Safety Speakers: • Sam Cole, Traffic Safety Manager, Colorado Department of Transportation • Joey Jones, System Director, North Louisiana Criminalistics Laboratory • Duane Siedschlag, Impaired Driving Coordinator, Minnesota Office of Traffic Safety
WORKSHOP BLOCK 2
Monday, 1:45 p.m. – 3:15 p.m.
Integrating Behavioral Programs and Traffic Records for Impactful Results
JW Grand Ballroom 1
Removing the silos between behavioral traffic safety and traffic records programs is key to more effective programs in your state. This interactive session will explore how four State Highway Safety Offices use traffic records data to inform programs designed to address equity and bias in traffic safety. Panelists will identify common limitations of data integration across agencies and how to overcome them. Discover how state Traffic Records Coordinating Committees not only make interventions more effective but also improve our understanding of road safety challenges. Moderator: Tara Casanova-Powell, CEO, ATSIP Speakers: • Andrea Bill, Traffic Safety Engineer Research Program Manager, University of Wisconsin-Madison Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering • Allison Curry, Senior Scientist and Director, Center for Injury Research and Prevention, The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia • Tim Kerns, Director, Maryland Department of Transportation – Motor Vehicle Administration – Maryland Highway Safety Office • Juliet Little, Program Manager, Connecticut Department of Transportation Highway Safety Office
Transforming Post-Crash Care: Innovations and Best Practices for Highway Safety
JW Grand Ballroom 2
As we strive for zero fatalities, post-crash care is a critical component within the framework of the Safe System approach. Equipping frontline heroes with cutting-edge tools and knowledge can significantly enhance their ability to provide effective post-crash care and save lives. Explore how SHSOs are using federal funds to implement innovative strategies for advancing post-crash care including pioneering training programs for first responders and leveraging new technologies. Moderator: Lauren Stewart, Director, Bureau of Highway Safety, Maine Department of Public Safety Speakers: • Brock Aun, Vice President of Communications and Public Safety, HAAS Alert • Tim Bell, Director of Clinical Training, Level One Accountability, LLC • Anthony Bledsoe, Program Manager, Washington Traffic Safety Commission • Gamunu Wijetunge, Director, Office of Emergency Medical Services, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
Communication that Saves Lives – Not a Trivial Pursuit
JW Grand Ballroom 3
Do you know how to create effective messages about traffic safety in today’s everchanging world? Join us for a game of trivia that will test your knowledge and may expose your shortcomings! A panel of experts will dive into topics like multicultural communication, reaching underserved communities, grassroots outreach and leveraging local events. Get ready to learn, laugh and sharpen your traffic safety communication skills. This is one trivia session you won’t want to miss! Moderator: Bill Kotowski, Grants and Contracts Officer, Idaho Transportation Department Speakers: • Presley Connor, Vulnerable Road User Communications Manager, District of Columbia Highway Safety Office • Dustin Skilbred, Vice President of Operations, Alliance Highway Safety • Laura Sonderup, Managing Director and Senior Strategist, Heinrich Marketing, Inc. • Arriale Tabson, Public Information Officer, Tennessee Office of Highway Safety
Strategies for Making "I Don't Drive Distracted" the Norm
JW Grand Ballroom 4
Making distracted driving socially unacceptable won’t happen with a single strategy. Getting drivers to keep their eyes and mind on the road every trip will take a comprehensive approach that leverages multiple strategies and countermeasures. Join State Highway Safety Office technology and communications experts as they share proven and innovative approaches for reaching today and tomorrow’s drivers, so they are compelled to just drive! Moderator: Bill Bell, Executive Director, Highway Safety, Kentucky Transportation Cabinet Speakers: • Erin Iwata. COO and Digital Director, Heinrich Marketing, Inc. • Janine Koffel, Program Manager, Washington Traffic Safety Commission • Ryan McMahon, Cambridge Mobile Telematics • Jonathan Nelson, State Highway Safety and Traffic Engineer, Missouri Department of Transportation
Tuesday, September 10
WORKSHOP BLOCK 3
Tuesday, 10:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Turning Advocacy into Action: Roadway Safety Legislative Victories in the States
JW Grand Ballroom 4
State laws are one of the most powerful tools in our fight against dangerous driving and traffic deaths. Three safety advocates will share their experiences working with state legislators to successfully pass roadway safety bills, the real-world obstacles they faced and lessons learned along the way in their fight for safer streets. They’ll also discuss the important role State Highway Safety Offices and their partners can play to help support and expand advocacy efforts. Moderator: Shelly Baldwin, Director, Washington Traffic Safety Commission Speakers: • Tammy Gweedo McGee, Founder, Conner Gweedo Memorial Foundation • Angela Nelson, Vice President, Public and Government Affairs, AAA Missouri • Melissa Wandall, President, National Coalition for Safer Roads
Leveraging All Our Tools: How States Can Use Tech in a Safe System Approach
JW Grand Ballroom 1+2
Technology offers new and exciting opportunities to achieve Vision Zero, but where do you start if you’re a State Highway Safety Office? Industry leaders and state officials will share practical examples of how technology can advance the key elements of the Safe System approach: safe people, vehicles, speeds and roads, and post-crash care. Gain a deeper understanding of the progress we’re making, the role you can play and how to leverage all the tools in your toolbox to make progress toward zero. Moderator: Rick Birt, Director, District of Columbia Highway Safety Office Speakers: • David Aylor, Vice President, Active Safety, IIHS • Heather Aijian, Public Affairs Manager, Waymo • Paul Escobar, Senior Public Policy and Safety Manager, Zoox
Successfully Implementing a Roadside Drug Testing Program
JW Grand Ballroom 3
Equipping law enforcement with the tools to address the increase in drug-impaired driving is essential for achieving zero deaths. Learn how Indiana, Kansas and Minnesota are successfully implementing oral fluid screening programs. Law enforcement, State Highway Safety Office and toxicology officials will share insights for advancing roadside testing and lessons learned, share metrics that demonstrate the benefits of this technology and highlight how the data obtained from this tool can inform decision-making for and enhance other important countermeasures. Moderator: Pam Shadel Fischer, Senior Director of External Engagement, Governors Highway Safety Association Speakers: • Michael Hanson, Director, Minnesota Office of Traffic Safety • Carrie Hodges, Forensic Scientist IV – Toxicology Supervisor, Kansas Bureau of Investigation • Christopher Kirby, Law Enforcement Liaison, Indiana Criminal Justice Institute
WORKSHOP BLOCK 4
Tuesday, 2:00 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.
Diversity Drives Dialogue: Evaluating Nationwide PP&E Efforts
JW Grand Ballroom 1+2
State Highway Safety Offices (SHSOs) are now required to develop and implement public participation and engagement (PP&E) efforts to reach communities that are underserved and overrepresented in traffic fatalities. But determining how to start can be challenging. This participatory workshop will feature roundtable discussion groups led by SHSO practitioners who will jump start the conversation by sharing their own PP&E efforts and then invite you to identify what is and isn’t working in your own state, brainstorm solutions and begin building a framework to help your SHSO move forward. Space is limited! Arrive early to guarantee a seat. Moderator: Debra Hollis, Highway Safety Manager, Arkansas State Police Highway Safety Office Speakers: • Sharon Bryson, Director, Delaware Office of Highway Safety • Maura Fitzgerald, Behavioral Safety Coordinator, Kansas Bureau of Transportation Safety • Tristan Traylor, Program Manager, Pedestrian and Bike, Arkansas State Police Highway Safety Office • Tim Weisberg, Deputy Director, Marketing and Public Affairs, California Office of Traffic Safety • Sara Wood, Community Education Coordinator/Target Zero Manager Region 8 WTSC, Kent Police Department
The Future of the Law Enforcement Liaison Program
JW Grand Ballroom 3
Law Enforcement Liaisons (LELs) are key to your State Highway Safety Office building and maintaining effective working relationships with the law enforcement agencies in your state. What does the future hold for the LEL program? How can we best train and equip LELs to more effectively engage with law enforcement in addressing risky driving behaviors including speeding, impaired driving and seat belt use? LELs will weigh-in on a five-year research program, led by Johns Hopkins University, tasked with identifying and piloting new approaches to traffic enforcement and elevating today’s LEL program. Moderator: Carrie Krupp, Program Manager, TSEP/Joining Forces Program, Nevada Office of Traffic Safety Speakers: • Katie Alexander, Law Enforcement Liaison, Texas Municipal Police Association • Todd Hartline, Law Enforcement Liaison, Nevada Office of Traffic Safety • Janice Martinez, Law Enforcement Liaison, Florida Department of Transportation • Jeff Michael, Distinguished Scholar, Johns Hopkins University
Innovations in Data Analysis: How Three SHSOs are Using New Data Sources to Advance Traffic Safety
JW Grand Ballroom 4
Accurate and timely traffic safety data are essential as states work to address dangerous driving behaviors and protect everyone on the road. GHSA and MICHELIN Mobility Intelligence awarded data grants to three states – California, Minnesota and Washington – to access new data not captured in crash reports and by legacy data systems. Learn more about this collaboration and how these states are leveraging these data gain valuable insights for combating dangerous driving behaviors. Moderator: Rick Birt, Director, District of Columbia Highway Safety Office Speakers: • Chris Armstrong, Assistant Chief, California Highway Patrol • Staci Hoff, Research Director, Washington Traffic Safety Commission • Brandon Walters, Program Director, Minnesota Department of Public Safety
Wednesday, September 11
WORKSHOP BLOCK 5
Wednesday, 10:15 a.m. – 11:45 a.m.
Safe Streets for All: Engaging and Protecting Young Walkers and Rollers
JW Grand Ballroom 1+2
Young people without a driver’s license often take advantage of active transportation modes like walking, bicycling and scooting. However, this can be more dangerous for underserved and marginalized youth, as data show that individuals in low-income areas are overrepresented in fatal crashes. It is critical for State Highway Safety Offices to engage with, listen to and prioritize the needs of young road users who are most at risk. Panelists will share their experiences engaging with underserved and marginalized youth and lessons learned that SHSOs and others can use to support safer roadways for active modes of transportation. Moderator: Jennifer Hogan, Section Chief, Injury Prevention Programs, New York State Department of Health Speakers: • Melody Gibson, Education Director, Civic Design Center • Louis Pratt, Community Engagement Specialist, SADD Inc. • Megan Ramey, Safe Routes to School Manager, Hood River County School District • William Van Alstyne, Program Director, Albany County DPW Traffic Safety Education Programs • Ellen Walston, Injury Prevention Program Coordinator, East Carolina University Health Medical Center
Achieving Excellence in Highway Safety Criminal Justice
JW Grand Ballroom 3
Law enforcement, prosecutors and judges are all working to maximize the effectiveness of the highway safety criminal justice system. Learn why aligning these components of the criminal justice system is so critical and how to identify and address challenges that could derail the successful prosecution of traffic safety cases. Explore how training offered through the Traffic Safety Resource Prosecutor program can assist both law enforcement and prosecutors. Moderator: Whitney Braziel, Branch Chief, California Office of Traffic Safety Speakers: • Judge Robert Anchondo, Region 6 Judicial Outreach Liaison • Chris Daniels, Senior Traffic Safety Resource Prosecutor, Indiana Prosecuting Attorneys Council • Tara Kelly-Baker, Chief, Impaired Driving Division, NPD-110, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration • Buddy Lewis. Director, Tennessee Highway Safety Office
Proven Strategies for Reining in Speeders
JW Grand Ballroom 4
Speed is a factor in nearly one-third of deaths on our nation’s roadways. We’ll review current speed data and trends and examine several innovative strategies states and automakers are using to get drivers to slow down. You’ll also learn about in-vehicle technology designed to assist with maintaining safer speeds, technical implementation and policy guidance for automated enforcement programs, and how one state is conducting traditional speed enforcement in an innovative way. Moderator: Sharon Bryson, Director, Delaware Office of Highway Safety Speakers: • Jessica Cicchino, Vice President for Research, Insurance Institute for Highway Safety • Garrett Eucalitto, Commissioner, Connecticut Department of Transportation • Keith Williams, Division Chief, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration • Melissa Zebley, Colonel, Delaware State Police