The AAMVA Martha Irwin Distinguished Service Award for Highway Safety, is presented annually to a member law enforcement jurisdiction, or an individual or organization whose primary function is directly associated with highway and traffic safety efforts.
Dwight Helmick Receives 2004 Martha Irwin Distinguished Service Award for Highway Safety
With more than 35 years of service with the California Highway Patrol (CHP), Dwight Helmick heads up one of the most reputable and aggressive agencies dedicated to highway safety in the world. He was appointed to serve as Commissioner in 1995, and has helped the agency to achieve great things during his tenure.
The CHP achieved the lowest “Mileage Death Rate” on California roadways in recorded history, and California became the first state in the nation to achieve a 90 percent seat belt compliance rate. This resulted in the only A+ rating by the National Safety Council.
Helmick is actively involved in the safety issues that are so important to the public and the motor vehicle community:
- He chairs a statewide “Vehicle Theft Advisory Committee” that coordinates multi-jurisdictional task forces to investigate, prosecute and prevent vehicle theft.
- He leads a Designated Driver program that promotes the use of non-drinking drivers.
- He manages the programs “Sober Graduation” and “Every Fifteen Minutes” that target high school-age drivers to increase awareness of alcohol-related deaths.
- He manages the California Motorcyclist Safety Program and has trained more than 200,000 cyclists. This program has reduced the number of deaths and injuries to motorcycle riders by over 80 percent.
- He formed a “Corridor Safety Program” that targets high-risk highways in California and reduces fatalities and injuries.
- He coordinates public safety efforts to reduce crime and violence and has led the way in agency partnerships and cooperation by supporting a host of smaller local agencies.
- He helped unite the Highway Patrol with CVSA, AAMVA and the Intelligent Transportation Society to shape the commercial enforcement standards for the United States, Mexico and Canada. He also assisted in implementing the first commercial vehicle electronic clearance program.
- Helmick is recognized internationally as a leader in reducing pedestrian fatalities.
For More Information
Contact Selden J. Fritschner, Law Enforcement Liaison, (703) 908-5855.