The Rhode Island Department of Transportation (RIDOT) is on a mission for safety by co-hosting the Mission: Safety 2010 Conference in Newport with the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) this coming Monday.
Engineers and behavior modification specialists from as far away as Washington state and as close as Newport will be uniting for a common goal of reducing fatalities and injuries on our highways. The conference, being held at the Newport Marriott at 25 America’s Cup Avenue in Newport, begins on Monday, September 20 and concludes on Wednesday, September 22, 2010.
“Last year we had 83 needless deaths on Rhode Island’s highways. Like many other states across the nation, we recognize that these tragedies can be prevented. By joining together, we hope to develop and implement new strategies that will reduce the number of highway fatalities,” said RIDOT Director Michael P. Lewis.
The opening day of the conference will feature a Monday morning keynote address by Senator Jack Reed, who will speak on “Transportation Safety for the 21st Century.” Monday’s lunchtime keynote will be given by Dr. Anthony Kane, American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) Director of Engineering and Technical Services. Dr. Kane’s address is entitled: “Halving the Number of Fatalities in Two Decades (Moving Towards Zero Deaths).” Other dignitaries anticipated to attend include: Senator Sheldon Whitehouse; Peter Osborn, FHWA Rhode Island Division Administrator; Philip Weiser, NHTSA Regional Administrator; and Colonel Brendan Doherty, Superintendent, Rhode Island State Police.
For a full copy of the agenda, or additional information about the conference, please see: http://www.dot.ri.gov/SAFETY2010/index.asp.
Contact: Heidi Gudmundson (401) 222-1362 x. 4009