Kendell Poole new Governors Highway Safety Association chairman

Kendell Poole, director of the Tennessee Governor’s Highway Safety Office, has been elected the new Chairman of the Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA), the national nonprofit organization representing state and territorial highway safety offices across the country.

Poole’s priorities as Chairman will be to assist states with implementation of the highway safety programs authorized under the new federal highway bill and to continue the organization’s national leadership on key highway safety issues including drunk driving, occupant protection, distracted driving and speeding.

The recently enacted federal highway bill known as “Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century” (MAP-21) provides states with needed resources to keep America’s roadways safe. Poole says, “The new law provides opportunities for states to qualify for additional federal funding by achieving certain performance goals or improved state laws. With so many new members in our association, I want to make sure that GHSA continues providing training and guidance to help every state highway safety office understand how to achieve their goals.”

The “Big 3” in highway safety continue to be drunk driving, occupant protection and speeding.

GHSA will remain a leader in these areas by promoting proven effective programs such as the national Click It or Ticket seat belt campaign and the Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over drunk driving initiative. The GHSA will also focus on other key issues including distracted driving, teen driver behavior, and motorcycle safety.

Poole had been a member of the Association’s Executive Board since 2006, first as a regional representative and most recently as Chairman of the Member Services Committee. He was appointed to his position in Tennessee in 2006 by Gov. Phil Bredesen and continues to serve in the administration of Gov. Bill Haslam. During his tenure as director, Tennessee has seen a 30-percent reduction in roadway fatalities. Poole attributes this accomplishment to award-winning, educational campaigns including Booze It and Lose It and Click It or Ticket.