8/24/2018
Reed Hollinshead
ITD Communication
208-334-8881
reed.hollinshead@itd.idaho.gov
Focus on highway safety earns ITD's Stokes Lifetime Achievement Award from AAMVA
BOISE - Idaho Transportation Department Chief Deputy Scott Stokes has spent his entire career advocating for highway safety issues, and that focus earned him the Lifetime Achievement Award from the American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators (AAMVA).
Watch video tribute to Scott.
AAMVA presented the award to Stokes during their annual conference, Aug. 23 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
"While many people throughout Idaho deserve credit for all the great work they are doing, Scott Stokes has demonstrated long-term, unwavering commitment and leadership to keep everyone driving forward toward our goal of saving lives," said Mary Hunter, who was ITD's Office of Highway Safety Manager from 2007-2011. "He made saving lives a priority. These are not just numbers, but lives saved and families kept whole."
Stokes began with ITD in December of 1991 as a staff engineer in the bridge section at ITD headquarters, after some time spent in the private sector. He then began a rapid ascent. In 1993, he moved north to become a project development engineer in Coeur d’Alene. Eighteen months later, he returned to Boise to become the state bridge engineer. Then, in 1996, he accepted the position of District 1 Engineer, and moved back to Coeur d’Alene.
In February 2007, Stokes transferred from his job as District 1 Engineer to a new job as Deputy Director at headquarters. He stepped up to serve as interim Director from July 2009 to January 2010.
"Scott is an excellent safety ambassador," said ITD's current Office of Highway Safety Manager, John Tomlinson. "He wants nothing more than to move ''Toward Zero Deaths.' I am glad he is being recognized for his many years of focus on behavioral safety."
His passion is linking how
engineering and operating decisions influence driver behavior and how
driver behavior should influence engineering and operations.
“Every day in homes across Idaho, families and friends of vehicle accident victims bear the anguish and grief of needless loss of life. Through his tireless
efforts and lifetime commitment to highway safety,
Scott is helping Idaho reduce and hopefully end this senseless tragedy,” DMV Manager Alberto Gonzalez wrote in his letter nominating Scott.
During his 25-year career at the department, Scott witnessed how engineering decisions, operational procedures and media campaigns impact highway safety, Gonzalez continued.
Through his passion for safety, Stokes led the effort to make improving highway safety the top priority for all employees.
