4/7/2009
Summit will focus on saving lives, keeping families whole
BOISE - National trends in highway safety will serve as theme for an estimated 200 state law enforcement officials and safety professionals on Wednesday (April 8) when they gather for the Idaho 2009 Highway Safety Summit, "Smart Choices Save Lives."
The summit is sponsored by the Idaho Transportation Department's Office of Highway Operations and Safety, and will be held at the Doubletree-Riverside Hotel in Boise, 2900 Chinden Blvd. The program runs from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Participants will include representatives from the Idaho State Police, county sheriff's offices, local police departments, regional and state transportation personnel, as well as other agencies and organizations involved in traffic safety.
Summit program highlights include:
- Carl McDonald, Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD), will talk about "The Way Forward from Here." (Lt. McDonald's daughter was killed by a drunk driver)
- Lynn Hightower, communications director with the Boise Police Department, will talk about media relations. (Lynn has been selected by NHTSA to provide training on a national scale)
- Idaho's Traffic Resource Prosecutor, Jared Olsen, will provide case law update.
- Chuck Hayes, International Chief of Police Association, will talk about "Fighting the Battle against Impaired Driving."
- Motor Officer, Kyle Wills, with Boise Police, and Sergeant Ted Piche', with the Lewiston Police, will provide a brief overview of the national TOPS (Traffic Occupant Protection Strategies) program.
Chief Bill Augsburger, Nampa Police Department, will be the luncheon speaker.
"Idaho's Highway Safety Summit is sponsored each year by ITD, and provides education to our law enforcement agencies and highway safety partners," said ITD Highway Safety Manager Mary Hunter. "The summit provides tools to our partners to help them maximize their effectiveness as we strive toward our goal of reducing preventable highway traffic deaths, injuries and economic losses."
Each day, six Idahoans are either killed or seriously injured in traffic crashes, according to crash data. Society pays for 85 percent of all medical costs incurred by crash victims. These costs are passed on to the general public through insurance premiums, taxes and increased charges for medical care.