Peter K. O'Rourke Special Achievement Awards

The Peter K. O'Rourke Special Achievement Awards recognize notable achievements in the field of highway safety by individuals, coalitions, organizations, nonprofit groups, businesses, media, government agencies, universities or programs. Submissions may include traffic safety programs, plans or legislation in areas including – but not limited to – occupant protection, impaired driving, speeding or aggressive driving, driver distraction, law enforcement, traffic records, emergency medical services and bicyclist, motorcyclist or pedestrian safety.

2024 Awards

The 2024 O'Rourke Awards were presented during the GHSA 2024 Annual Meeting to Melissa W. Wandall, AAA Missouri and Tammy Gweedo McGee.

Past Winners

2019 Winner: Montana FCCLA

The Montana Family, Career and Community Leaders of America’s (FCCLA) Traffic Safety Program is leading the way in saving lives in rural communities across the state.

Connecticut Judicial Branch Superior Court Operations On Line Adjudications

2019 Winner: Connecticut Superior Court

The Connecticut Superior Court’s Online Adjudication System enables individuals who plead “not guilty” to a traffic infraction to participate in the court process electronically, rather than be required to physically appear in court.

2018 Winners: Tom and Arlene Deutscher & Donna and Lynn Mickelson

Tom and Arlene Deutscher and Donna and Lynn Mickelson are the parents of a young couple, Aaron and Allison Deutscher, who – along with their daughter Brielle and an unborn child – were killed by a drunk driver in a crash on North Dakota roads in July 2012.

2018 Winner: New York State Pedestrian Safety Action Plan

The New York State Pedestrian Safety Action Plan is an ambitious partnership of the New York State departments of health and transportation and the Governor’s Traffic Safety Committee to protect the state’s most vulnerable road users.

2018 Winner: City of Atlanta

The City of Atlanta’s innovative North Avenue Smart Corridor pilot project uses technology, data and partnerships to address traffic and the related mobility and safety challenges along a busy urban artery.

2017 Winner: Watch for Me NC

North Carolina’s Watch for Me NC program is a comprehensive effort to reduce bicyclist and pedestrian deaths.

2017 Winner: Teen Driver Impact Program

Mississippi’s Teen Driver Impact Program has an innovative method that not only trains teens on how to drive safely.

2017 Winner: Snohomish County Sheriff’s Office

The Snohomish County Sheriff’s Office made driving and traffic safety a priority leading to a significant reduction in traffic-, pursuit-, and collision-related injuries and damages.

2016 Winner: Texas Municipal Traffic Safety Initiatives

Texas Municipal Traffic Safety Initiatives (MTSI) was established in 2008 to strengthen the ability of municipal courts to combat impaired driving.

2016 Winner: North Carolina Initiative to Reduce Underage Drinking

North Carolina's Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) Commission created the North Carolina Initiative to Reduce Underage Drinking.

2016 Winner: New York State Governor's Traffic Safety Committee and ITSMR DRE Tablet Application

In New York, officers who are Drug Recognition Experts (DREs) can now use tablet computers to enter their observations and assessments of persons suspected of drugged driving.

2016 Winner: Connecticut DOT and UConn Transportation Safety Research Center Crash Data Improvement

The Connecticut Department of Transportation’s (CTDOT) Crash Data and Analysis and Highway Safety Offices collaborated with the UConn School of Engineering to improve the quality and accessibility of the state’s crash data.

2015 Winner: Walk Smart Campaign

Ocean City Police Department (OCPD) spearheaded the Walk Smart program, a collaborative approach to reducing the number of pedestrian crashes.

2015 Winner: Virginia Traffic Records Electronic Data System Ignition Interlock Project

Following the passage of all-offender ignition interlock legislation, the Virginia Highway Safety Office implemented a Traffic Records Electronic Data System Ignition Interlock Project.

2015 Winner: Doug Herbert’s B.R.A.K.E.S.

B.R.A.K.E.S. (Be Responsible and Keep Everyone Safe) is a 501(c)(3) organization that provides free advanced driver’s education through its Teen Pro-Active Driving Course program.

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