Secretary LaHood Heads List of Inaugural NAFA Safety Leadership Award Winners

Princeton, NJ, March 23, 2012 --(PR.com)-- In the business world, safe driving can mean fewer accidents, lower insurance premiums, and the use of less fuel, but it also means the protection of a company's greatest assets – its employees. NAFA Fleet Management Association has long understood that fleet safety extends far beyond a company's bottom line. In 2011, the Association made a commitment to safer fleets by creating NAFA's Safety Advisory Council. That commitment continues with the Association's inaugural Safety Leadership Awards, which will be presented at NAFA's 2012 Institute & Expo in St. Louis on April 22.

NAFA's Safety Leadership Awards were created to recognize individuals and organizations that demonstrate positive influence and impact on vehicular and passenger safety. Three leading safety advocates were chosen as the inaugural recipients of the award.

• U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood
"During Secretary LaHood's term, Ray has greatly increased public awareness on the dangers of distracted driving, pushed to improve auto safety, developed and enforced valuable safety regulations, and served as a tireless advocate against drunk driving," said NAFA's Executive Director Phillip E. Russo, CAE. "His work is a testament to the importance of safe driving."

• Jack Hanley, Executive Director, Network of Employers for Traffic Safety (NETS)
"Jack Hanley and NETS lead the way in road safety efforts," Russo explained. "Through their annual safety benchmark surveys, monthly newsletters, and Drive Safely Work Week campaigns each year, NETS exemplifies everything for which the NAFA Safety Leadership Awards stand."

• Janet Froetscher, President & CEO, National Safety Council
"The National Safety Council saves lives by preventing injuries and deaths at work," stated Russo. "In fact, the Council helped save more than 1,500 lives and prevent more than 236,000 injuries in last year alone; truly a remarkable job by Janet Froetscher and the National Safety Council."

All three recipients will be honored in a special awards ceremony during the I&E. The conference is attended by fleet professionals from throughout the United States and Canada who are in the unique position to implement immediate changes within their organizations to bring about real results in such areas as traffic and road safety, sustainability, and distracted driving – areas of great concern to all three award recipients.

About NAFA's Institute & Expo
The 2012 I&E takes place April 21-24 at the America's Center in St. Louis, MO. The event program, created by fleet managers for fleet managers, features over 60 hours of fleet training, education, and workshops. In addition to an Expo Floor consisting of more than 200 companies showcasing their products and services, the I&E brings back fan favorites such as the Public Safety Roadeo and the Green Zone. Keynote presentations will be made by Canadian automotive journalist Jim Kenzie and Dr. Peter Bishop, PhD. Official media sponsors for NAFA's 2012 I&E include Automotive Digest, CAMAUTO, Canadian Automotive Fleet, CAR – Canadian Automotive Review, FleetDigest, FleetFocus, Fleet Maintenance, Fleet Management, Fleet Management Weekly, Fleet Owner, Fleet Perspectives, FLEETSolutions, International Fleet World, Light & Medium Truck, Naylor, NGT News, PoliceOne.com, and Utility Fleet Professional. For more information, visit http://www.nafainstitute.org.