New Highway Safety Director Named

JEFFERSON CITY - Leanna Depue has been selected to head the Highway Safety Division within the Missouri Department of Transportation. Previously, Dupue led the efforts of the Missouri Safety Center located at Central Missouri State University in Warrensburg.

"Leanna is nationally known and respected for her work on various highway safety issues," said Don Hillis, director of system management for MoDOT. "She brings great leadership skills to the position, as well as a collaborative approach to safety."

Depue also serves as chair of the executive committee for the Missouri Coalition for Roadway Safety and was instrumental in the coordination and development of Missouri's Blueprint for Safer Roadways . The coalition is charged with leading the statewide implementation of the Blueprint, which outlines strategies to reduce fatal and serious injuries on our roadways.

"I am very excited about the opportunity to serve the citizens of Missouri," stated Depue. " I'm looking forward to working with safety partners across the state to improve safety on our roadways."

Depue took over as director of Highway Safety on Sept. 26. In her new position, she oversees the division as it works to reduce deaths, injuries and property damage caused by traffic crashes on Missouri roadways. The division focuses on improving traffic safety through behavioral programs that target impaired driving, speeding, inattention or distracted driving, safety belt and child safety-seat use, and high-risk drivers.

Depue holds both a doctorate and master's degree in health education-safety from Southern Illinois University, where she also earned a bachelor's degree in physical education.

Editor's note:   Recorded comments from Highway Safety Director Leanna Depue are available by calling MoDOT's sound bite service at 1-866-847-7173.