GTSAC honors 10 for their efforts to improve traffic safety

March 9, 2020

The Governor’s Traffic Safety Advisory Commission (GTSAC) will honor 10 organizations, programs or individuals for outstanding involvement in traffic safety during their annual awards celebration Wednesday at the Kellogg Hotel and Conference Center in East Lansing. The awards will go to:

Richard H. Austin Long-Term Service Award

• Marquette City Fire Department for their child passenger safety program.
• Michigan Traffic Crash Facts website developed by the University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute.
• Michigan State Police (MSP) Sgt. Jose Patino for his work in traffic incident management.

Outstanding Achievement

• MSP Tpr. Robert Lindsay of the Niles Post for his work as a Drug Recognition Expert.
• MSP Calumet Post for prioritizing school bus safety.
• MSP Tri-City Post for their crash reduction traffic initiative.
• Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) North Region and Traverse City Transportation Service Center for installing new pedestrian hybrid beacons.
• Ontonagon High School’s “Don’t be Distracted” campaign.
• Otsego High School’s Students Against Destructive Decisions group.

Student Award

• Mitchell Stachnik, Traverse City Central High School, for raising awareness on the dangers of drinking and driving.

The GTSAC was formed in 2002 to serve as the state’s forum for identifying key traffic safety challenges and developing and implementing plans to address those issues. The commission includes representatives from the MDOT and MSP and departments of: Education, Health and Human Services, State, as well as the Office of the Governor, Aging and Adult Services Agency and Michigan Office of Highway Safety Planning. There are also three representatives from local government appointed by the governor.