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
The “Safe on 17” Task Force – led by the California Highway Patrol (CHP) – was formed in 1999 to address high collision rates on this dangerous stretch of road.
The Traffic Safety Coalition (TSC) quickly assembled a diverse group of safety advocates to conduct a vast education and advocacy program to show how traffic safety cameras are effective.
Teens in the Driver Seat (TDS) brings a fresh approach to teen driver safety, making teens directly responsible for both the development and delivery of traffic safety messages to their peers.
The No Refusal program uses police, prosecutors, judges, and medical professionals to obtain search warrants for blood samples from suspected impaired drivers who refuse breath tests.
Recognizing that a cooperative effort was necessary to save lives and reduce injuries on Missouri roadways, the Traffic and Highway Safety Division launched a statewide coalition.
The AARP Driver Safety Program (DSP) provides all drivers – especially those 50 years of age and older – with instruction to help improve their driving skills, drive crash-free, sustain mobility and maintain independence.
Zero Fatalities is a coalition of Utah highway safety partners working to prevent traffic injuries and fatalities whose groundbreaking Texting While Driving video fueled the distracted driving discussion on a national scale.
The Florida Motorcycle Safety Coalition was formed to develop and implement the Motorcycle Strategic Safety Plan (MSSP) called for in the state's 2006 Strategic Highway Safety Plan.
In response to the growing concern about teen driver safety, as well as fatal crashes in its service areas, DCH Auto Group made a substantial commitment to promote teen safe driving.
Kansas DOT developed the S.A.F.E. (Seat Belts Are For Everyone) program, which capitalizes on teen buying power by using a combination of positive and negative incentives to change behavior.
A series of deadly teen driver crashes in New Jersey led traffic safety and law enforcement professionals across the state to push for the passage of a bill establishing a Teen Driver Study Commission.
The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel decided to use its resources to increase awareness about critical issues and begin influencing the culture of drinking and driving in Wisconsin.
Maryland’s Task Force to Combat Driving Under the Influence of Drugs and Alcohol was established by the Maryland General Assembly to assess the status of statewide efforts to combat impaired driving.
As a member of Indiana’s Traffic Records Coordinating Committee, the Judicial Technology & Automation Committee (JTAC) was tasked with developing an electronic traffic ticketing system that would accomplish three primary goals.
While there are many teen driving programs in the United States, none have reached as many teens as the Illinois Operation Teen Safe Driving Program.