NEWS RELEASE

For further information please contact: Capt. J. Tim Hull
(573) 526-6115

Q9083
September 3, 2008
EMPASIS: Patrol Receives Distinguished Service Award

Colonel James F. Keathley, superintendent of the Patrol, is proud to inform the public that the American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators (AAMVA) has awarded the Missouri State Highway Patrol the Martha Irwin Distinguished Service Award (DSA) For Highway Safety. The award was presented to the agency during the AAMVA’s Annual International Conference in Orlando, FL, on August 26, 2008. Lieutenant Colonel Richard L. Coffey, assistant superintendent of the Patrol, accepted the award during the ceremony. The person who submitted the nomination, Julie Allen, director of the Customer Services Division of the Missouri Department of Revenue, and Missouri Director of Revenue Omar Davis joined Lt. Colonel Coffey at the ceremony.

This award recognizes both an individual and an agency whose primary function is highway and traffic safety, and who has made a significant impact to improve highway safety and the reduction of fatalities.

In a press release, AAMVA stated, “MSHP patrols over 33,000 miles of roadway. In 2006, the MSHP reported a 13 percent decrease in traffic deaths. With an increased emphasis on highway safety enforcement, MSHP has seen an additional nine percent reduction in fatalities in the last reporting year.”

The AAMVA Distinguished Service Award For Highway Safety was created in 2001. Following the first presentation of this award, the AAMVA Board of Directors changed the name to the Martha Irwin Distinguished Service Award For Highway Safety in recognition of former AAMVA Chair Martha Irwin and her focus on highway safety.

The selection committee for this award is made up of nationwide law enforcement, motor vehicle administrators, highway safety partners, and past winners of the award.

Last year the Patrol kicked off a new traffic safety initiative that focuses not only on reducing serious crashes and fatalities, but encouraging the citizens of the state to become vested partners in the highway safety effort. The Patrol has created a marketing and education plan that includes “Help Wanted” bumper stickers, billboard, informational fliers, and other promotion materials. The educational campaign solicits input from all the citizens of the state to encourage others to help.

The AAMVA citation recognizing the Patrol also recognized Missouri’s sizable increase in seat belt usage, and statistics showing a significant downward trend in serious crashes, alcohol-related crashes, and speed-related crashes.

NHTSA statistics indicate that if everyone in the country wore their seat belts, the U.S. highway fatality rate would be cut in half instantly. Non-compliance of the seat belt and child restraint laws has long been a focus of the Missouri State Highway Patrol. A zero tolerance policy on seat belt violations recorded over 59,000 seat belt citations this past year.

The awards committee noted other successful programs that made the Patrol an easy choice for this year’s winner including:
A new cooperative effort between the Patrol and the state DMV regarding driver testing programs;
A new information system to improve older driver systems;
An improved vehicle inspection program that decreases the number of crashes related to vehicle impairments
An increased number of school bus inspections
A 30 percent increase in the number of alcohol-related driving citations.

The awards committee also noted that the person that nominated this year’s winner was the head of Missouri’s Department of Revenue, who recognized the value of the partnership between DMVs and law enforcement.

“The Missouri State Highway Patrol takes the responsibility of saving lives seriously,” said Colonel Keathley. “I want to thank the AAMVA for this prestigious award. I also want to thank the Missouri Department of Revenue. The partnership between our agencies is making a positive impact on highway safety concerns.”

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