COLUMBIA - Twelve individuals and organizations were recognized at this year’s Highway Safety and Traffic Conference for their efforts in moving Missouri towards zero roadway fatalities. The Missouri Coalition for Roadway Safety holds the event each year to support Show-Me Zero, Missouri’s strategic highway safety plan. Every other year, these awards are presented to four statewide individuals or businesses and one winner from each of seven regions across the state.
This year, Nicole Hood was recognized as the Buckle Up Phone Down Champion for the instrumental role she played in expanding the Buckle Up Phone Down initiative not only statewide, but also nationally.
The Highway Opportunities through Professional Engineering (HOPE) Award was presented to MoDOT’s St. Louis County Safety Improvements Project for innovative infrastructure upgrades and community partnerships, that will ultimately save lives.
The Lay Down the Law Award recognizes law enforcement officers or groups advancing highway safety through innovative traffic safety efforts. This year, the award was presented to Lt. Scott Schnurbusch with the Hazelwood Police Department for his dedication to traffic safety, the St. Louis Coalition for Roadway Safety and the citizens of Hazelwood. A second award was also presented to the Springfield Police Department for their commitment to the SGF Yields pedestrian safety program.
The Tempe Humphrey Award, which recognizes an individual or group with focused efforts on younger drivers, was presented to Tyler Luckenhoff. Luckenhoff has been involved in the TRACTION (Teens Taking Action to Prevent Traffic Crashes) youth program for the last 20 years and is a true leader and role model inside and outside of TRACTION.
In addition to the statewide awards, each region of the Coalition recognizes an individual or group for their leadership and work to improve highway safety. For the Northeast Missouri Region, Anna Gill with the Mark Twain Regional Council of Governments was recognized for her dedication to educating our youngest and most vulnerable drivers and consistently demonstrating her commitment to highway safety through various initiatives.
To view the full list of award recipients and nominations, visit: 2024 Highway Safety and Traffic Awards.