Together for Safer Roads and NYC Department of Citywide Administrative Services to Honor Visionaries in Road Safety at the 2023 Global Vision Zero Awards

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Together for Safer Roads and NYC Department of Citywide Administrative Services to

Honor Visionaries in Road Safety at the 2023 Global Vision Zero Awards

**Natalie Draisin, FIA Foundation, and Greg Spotts, Seattle DOT, Recognized for

Significant Contributions to Road Safety**

New York, NY (October 19, 2023) – Together for Safer Roads (TSR), a leading non-governmental organization dedicated to fostering cross-sector partnerships and using technological innovation to enhance global fleet trucking safety, and the NYC Department of Citywide Administrative Services (DCAS), announced the distinguished recipients of the 2023 Annual Global Vision Zero Awards. These awards recognize outstanding individuals and organizations working to make our roads safer for all.

Natalie Draisin, Director, North America Office & United Nations Representative at the FIA Foundation, has been selected as the recipient of the Global Vision Zero Leadership Award. Each year, the award is presented to an individual who has made deep seated, broad-based, inspiring contributions to the global Vision Zero movement. Ms. Draisin’s long career in the transportation field covers substantial work in both the public and private sectors and currently, she leads efforts to advance evidence-based solutions through safe, sustainable mobility.

Greg Spotts, Director of the Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT), will be receiving the Lenin Fierro Vision Zero Fleet Advocacy Award for his outstanding commitment as a champion of fleet safety. Named in honor of the late Lenin Fierro, a former DCAS employee and long-time safety advocate, the award is presented annually to an individual who through their leadership, positivity, and personal dedication transforms organizations and helps them drive towards Vision Zero. Director Spotts has a remarkable and long record of creative and effective leadership in road safety, including the recent formation of Seattle’s first Chief Transportation Safety Officer.

“We are delighted to honor Natalie Draisin and Greg Spotts, whose diverse portfolio of work has led to important progress in road and fleet safety, and which embodies our organization’s commitment to creating safer roads for all,” said Peter Goldwasser, Executive Director of Together for Safer Roads. “Their efforts demonstrate the notable leadership we need to achieve our collective goal of reaching Vision Zero.”

“Lenin Fierro was a US Navy veteran, a husband, a father, and an extraordinary public servant who played a pivotal role in improving fleet safety at DCAS and citywide; his memory is partly preserved through the work of others striving to increase fleet safety,” said DCAS Deputy Commissioner and Chief Feet Officer Keith Kerman. “This year, we’re recognizing another national leader, Greg Spotts. Greg has brought Vision Zero and Safe Systems approaches into every road project in his city and created Seattle’s first ever Chief Transportation Safety Officer to keep safety at the forefront of transportation decision making. Thank you to Together for Safer Roads for continuing to honor Lenin Fierro’s memory and recognizing Greg with this award. We would also like to congratulate Natalie Draisin of the FIA Foundation for receiving the TSR Global Vision Zero Leadership award and we are looking forward to her keynote speech at our upcoming NYC Vision Zero Fleet Forum on November 2.”

“The Global Vision Zero Leadership Award embodies the hard work of our partners, who prove that safe, sustainable mobility saves lives.” said Natalie Draisin. “Together, we are fighting to combat the #1 killer of our young people – road traffic crashes. We can, and must, achieve Vision Zero.”

Greg Spotts added, “Receiving the Lenin Fierro Vision Zero Fleet Advocacy Award is a testament to the dedication of our team and our commitment to making streets safer. Together, we can achieve Vision Zero and save lives.”

This year, the Lenin Fierro Vision Zero Fleet Advocacy Award will be presented at the annual Together for Safer Roads Member Reception to be held on November 1, while the Global Vision Zero Leadership Award will be presented at the Vision Zero Fleet Safety Forum on November 2.

The Vision Zero Fleet Safety Forum, presented by TSR and DCAS, will bring together key stakeholders from the public and private sectors, government officials, innovative safety technology companies, policy experts, and road safety advocates. The event will feature keynote speeches, panel discussions, breakout sessions, and opportunities for networking.

The Forum will be held on Thursday, November 2, 2023 from 8am – 3pm EDT at the Queens Theatre, 14 United Nations Avenue South, Queens, NY 11368.

To find out more about speakers, workshops/panels and to reserve your spot at the Vision Zero Fleet Safety Forum, please visit the registration page.

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About the Global Vision Zero Awards:

The Global Vision Zero Leadership Award is presented to an individual who has demonstrated a leadership role in the global vision zero movement by making commitments to help eliminate serious traffic related injuries and deaths. The Lenin Fierro Vision Zero Fleet Advocacy Award is presented to an individual who has the leadership, positivity, commitment, approachability and personal dedication to transforming organizations towards the goals of Vision Zero.

About Together For Safer Roads:

Together for Safer Roads (TSR), is a leading NGO focused on building cross-sector partnerships to improve fleet trucking safety, leveraging the technology, data, and expertise of its members to create innovative programs aimed at preventing traffic crashes, injuries, and fatalities across the globe. TSR’s membership includes some of the largest and most influential fleets worldwide, as well as prominent road safety technology companies. TSR collaborates with governments, businesses, and community stakeholders on local projects, fleet safety management, and technology initiatives, with the ultimate goal of achieving Vision Zero — the complete eradication of traffic fatalities and severe injuries. Learn more at TSR’s website.

About NYC Department of Citywide Administrative Services:

The NYC Department of Citywide Administrative Services (DCAS) makes city government work for all New Yorkers. Our commitment to equity, effectiveness, and sustainability guides our work providing City agencies with the resources and support needed to succeed, including:

Recruiting, hiring, and training City employees.
Managing 55 public buildings.
Acquiring, selling, and leasing City property.
Purchasing over $1 billion in goods and services for City agencies.
Overseeing the greenest municipal vehicle fleet in the country.
Leading the City’s efforts to reduce carbon emissions from government operations.

Learn more about DCAS by visiting nyc.gov/dcas and by following us on X,  Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, and listening to the Inside Citywide podcast.

Media Contact:

Judy Klym

judy@agletstrategies.com

203-921-9039