Minnesota’s Michael Hanson Elected Chair of GHSA

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 3, 2024

CONTACT: Adam Snider (GHSA), 202-580-7930, 202-365-8971 (cell)

Priorities include resources, flexibility for highway safety offices working to combat dangerous driving

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Michael Hanson, Governor's Representative (GR) and Director of the Minnesota Office of Traffic Safety, was elected to serve as Chair of the Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA) Executive Board at the organization's 2024 Annual Meeting held last month in Indianapolis. Hanson will serve a one-year term for GHSA, the national nonprofit association of state and territorial highway safety offices (SHSOs) that address behavioral traffic safety issues.

A key priority for GHSA under Hanson's leadership will be the upcoming Congressional reauthorization of the nation's surface transportation programs, which will expire in September 2026. With national traffic deaths finally starting to fall after years of pandemic-fueled increases, it's critical that SHSOs aren't overly burdened by administrative requirements and have the flexibility to be innovative and creative in how they address both established and emerging safety concerns. For example, promoting the use of new technology and data sources can complement and improve existing strategies like equitable traffic enforcement and infrastructure improvements.

Another top priority for GHSA and SHSOs is addressing the nationwide speeding epidemic. Speeding-related crashes killed 12,151 people in 2022, accounting for 28% of traffic deaths that year, according to federal data. While the speeding problem has existed for decades, there has been a growing recognition since the pandemic that speeding - like drunk and drugged driving - is a major cause of carnage on our roads. Tackling a problem as entrenched as speeding will require a strong federal role and robust resources dedicated to countermeasures like equitable enforcement, public outreach and technology solutions.

SHSOs and their partners also continue to implement the holistic Safe System approach to roadway safety, which emphasizes safer street designs, safer vehicles and safer people as necessary interventions to reduce deaths and serious injuries. Behavioral safety programs, particularly those addressing speeding, are vital to providing a multi-layered safety net. Additional federal resources would advance the implementation of this lifesaving approach.

"Now is an especially pivotal time in how our country approaches traffic safety. It's critical that we seize on recent progress and continue the downward trend in preventable crashes and deaths," said Hanson. "How do we do that? By relying on proven and effective strategies that we know work while also innovating, trying new things and working with new partners. By collaborating with everyone who wants to make a difference, we can tackle the many safety challenges we face and improve our traffic safety programs so everyone on the road gets to their destination safely."

Hanson was elected GHSA Vice Chair in 2022 and 2023 and previously served as Treasurer. Prior to his appointment as the Director of the Office of Traffic Safety in 2017, he served with the Minnesota State Patrol for 33 years, retiring at the rank of Captain.

Also elected to serve a one-year term on the GHSA Executive Committee were:

• Vice Chair Amy Davey, Administrator, Nevada Office of Traffic Safety
• Treasurer Tom Glass, Chief, Highway Safety Section, Pennsylvania Department of Transportation
• Secretary Lisa Freeman, Executive Director, Louisiana Highway Safety Commission

GHSA's Executive Board also consists of 20 Regional Representatives and Alternates, as well as the Chairs and Co-chairs of the Association's seven committees. More information about GHSA's Executive Board is available online.

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About GHSA
The Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA) is a nonprofit association representing the highway safety offices of states, territories, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. GHSA provides leadership and representation for the states and territories to improve traffic safety, influence national policy, enhance program management and promote best practices. Its members are appointed by their Governors to administer federal and state highway safety funds and implement state highway safety plans. Visit ghsa.org for more information or find us on Facebook and X/Twitter.

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