The Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities (DOT&PF) Alaska Highway Safety Office (AHSO) is convening a statewide Traffic Safety Summit for the first time in over a decade.
AHSO invited industry leaders from civil and industrial engineering, health care, sociology, law enforcement, government, media, marketing, and more in an event held in Anchorage from January 9-10. The summit is focusing on furthering AHSO’s goal of eliminating roadway fatalities and serious injuries caused by crashes.
The two-day summit agenda is including topics ranging from structural (e.g., roundabouts) to behavioral. Recognizing the complexity and breadth of factors that affect road safety—including factors unique to Alaska, such as icy roads—the AHSO has structured their summit to invite diverse perspectives representing the “Four Es” of highway safety: Engineering, Enforcement, Education, and Emergency Response. The goal of the summit is to share challenges and solutions to ensure safer state roadways and road users.
“We have been fortunate to have an engaged, committed group of professionals working toward a common goal: eliminating injuries and deaths on Alaska’s roadways," AHSO Manager Tammy Kramer said in a statement. "This is a proud moment for all of us, as the summit affirms our united commitment to work together to achieve safe roads and safe behavior for all Alaskans.”
The AHSO's mission is to “enhance the health and well-being of Alaska’s people through programs aimed at saving lives and preventing injuries on Alaska’s highways.” AHSO coordinates highway safety programming focused on public outreach and education, enforcement, promotion of new safety technology, integration of public health strategies, collaboration with safety and private sector organizations, and cooperation with state and local governments.
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SOURCE: Alaska Highway Safety Office