Rep. Watson Receives National Honor for Teen Driver Safety Legislation

Citing her efforts to improve traffic safety in Pennsylvania, Rep. Kathy Watson (Bucks/144) was honored June 15 with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s (NHTSA) Award for Public Service.

The award recognizes organizations and individuals who exemplify high standards of achievement in the field of traffic safety. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration operates under the authority of the U.S. Department of Transportation.

“Because of your dedication to making highways safer, we continue to make progress in reducing the senseless deaths of injuries caused by traffic crashes,” said David L. Strickland, NHTSA administrator.

“Your outstanding leadership and advocacy for teen driver safety and text-free driving is helping to keep Pennsylvania’s highways safe for all road users,” wrote Thomas M. Louizou, regional administrator for the agency. 

of Act 81 of 2011, legislation that enhances Pennsylvania’s Graduated Driver’s License (GDL) law for junior drivers ages 16-and-a-half to 18. The new law requires additional behind-the-wheel training for permit holders, restricts non-family passengers in a car driven by a junior driver and enhances the requirement everyone in the car who is under 18 to be securely fastened.

Watson, who also serves as the chairman of the House Transportation Committee’s Subcommittee on Highway Safety, also helped spearhead House efforts for a texting while driving ban in 2011.

“My ultimate goal with this highway safety legislation – both the teen driving law and the anti-texting ban – is to help bring people home safely,” Watson said. “While I am humbled by this national honor, I must also thank everyone who helped play a role in advancing this legislation to the governor’s desk. From the families who tragically lost loved ones in vehicle crashes to the medical and safety experts who provided concrete data on why crashes are the number one cause of teen deaths, this was a team effort, and I’m proud of the victories of this past year.”

The NHTSA Public Service Awards were presented at an annual conference hosted by Lifesavers, a national, non-profit organization of private and public groups and individuals dedicated to improving highway safety.

“While safety has always been our agency’s highest priority, we rely on the continued leadership of safety practitioners across the country to help tackle the most dangerous driving practices – whether the issue is drunk driving, seatbelt use, or distraction,” said Strickland.  “The honorees today know firsthand the kind of dedication needed to keep our roadways safe, from promoting traffic safety in their communities, to developing and implementing innovative programs, to providing invaluable hands-on experience on a daily basis.”

NHTSA data show that highway deaths fell to 32,885 in 2010, the lowest level since 1949. The record-breaking decline in traffic fatalities occurred even as American drivers traveled nearly 46 billion more miles during the year, an increase of 1.6 percent over the 2009 level. 2010 also saw the lowest fatality rate ever recorded, with 1.10 deaths per 100 million vehicle miles traveled in 2010, down from 1.15 deaths per 100 million vehicle miles traveled in 2009. Early estimates for 2011 fatality and injury data indicate these historic lows continued through last year.