Earlier today, the Macon-Bibb County Health Department was presented a 2015 Buckle Up! America Award at the Awards Ceremony in Macon. The award was presented by the Georgia Traffic Injury Prevention Institute (GTIPI), a part of The University of Georgia’s College of Family and Consumer Sciences Extension, and the Governor’s Office of Highway Safety.

The Buckle Up! America Awards recognize individuals, agencies, community and civic groups who work to reduce injuries and prevent fatalities in Georgia through involvement with traffic safety, seat belt and child safety seat awareness initiatives. “The 2015 Awards Ceremony was designed to publicly thank traffic safety advocates for all that they have done to support traffic safety initiatives,” said Don Bower, the Institute’s Project Director. “These award winners focus on seat belts, child passenger safety and teen driving programs in the local community and across the State of Georgia,” he said.  Bower presented the awards with Harris Blackwood, director of the Governor’s Office of Highway Safety (GOHS) and Frankie Jones, GTIPI Director. 

To be considered for an award, a nomination was made with supportive documentation that identified impact in the following areas: Community Involvement, Injury Prevention Activities, Advocacy, Leadership, and Merit. “The Macon-Bibb County Health Department demonstrated how to effectively address traffic injury prevention and involve other organizations in a community effort,” said Harris Blackwood, Director of GOHS.

The Macon-Bibb County Health Department was nominated in the Health Department Category. This year’s nominees were also recognized for taking an active role in promoting injury prevention in the field of traffic safety, including legislative activities, injury prevention initiatives, and through media. The Macon-Bibb County Health Department demonstrated a strong leadership role at a level of merit in 2015,” said Director Blackwood. Blackwood congratulated recipients after the ceremony. “We are extremely proud of the work these professionals and volunteers do to save lives on Georgia’s roads and highways,” he said.

For more information about the Buckle Up! America Awards, or for information about traffic safety, child safety seats, teen driving, and older driver resources, visit The University of Georgia Traffic Injury Prevention Institute’s website at www.ridesafegeorgia.org