John T. Hanna Awards
In 1991, Concerned Citizens Advocating Traffic Safety (CCATS) instituted the JOHN T. HANNA AWARDS. Named after Virginia’s “Father of Transportation Safety,” these awards honor those who share John T. Hanna’s tireless dedication and commitment to improving traffic safety on Virginia’s highways.
Mr. Hanna had an unparalleled zeal for safety that hallmarked his career, and he remains an inspiration to every parent, police officer, judge, teacher, and citizen who is committed to saving lives through traffic safety.
If you know of an individual or organization working to impact the reduction of death and injury on your highways, you are invited to submit nominations to recognize these outstanding traffic safety advocates – The JOHN T. HANNA Awards: Recognizing Traffic Safety Excellence in Hampton Roads
Please help us recognize noteworthy individuals and organizations by nominating them for the Annual JOHN T. HANNA AWARDS.
Read More: Remembering Virginia’s “Father of Transportation Safety,” John T. Hanna
2025 John T. Hanna Award Recipients
Ron Schafer
For Outstanding Achievement
Employer Safety
Officer Alberto Rosado
For Outstanding Achievement
Impaired Driving Prevention
Officer Justin N. Ford
For Outstanding Achievement
Law Enforcement Initiatives
Tammy “Gweedo” McGee
For Outstanding Achievement
Legal Initiatives
Traffic Cam Watch
For Outstanding Achievement
Messaging/Media
Nicole Jones
For Outstanding Achievement
Occupant Protection
Elizabeth River Crossings
For Outstanding Achievement
Youth Traffic Safety
“Lifetime Achievement Award”
2025
John T. Hanna Award Recognizing
Traffic Safety Excellence
In Hampton Roads
Is Awarded To
Maggie Haley
For
Lifetime Achievement
In Transportation Safety
2025 John T. Hanna Award
Presentation
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Eligibility
Any individual, business, organization, or governmental agency in the Hampton Roads and Eastern Shore area, which promotes community traffic safety, i.e. sober driving, use of safety belts, bicycle or pedestrian safety, motorcycle safety, incident management, etc., is eligible for nomination. 2024 JOHN T. HANNA AWARD winners are not eligible for the 2025 nomination.
Rules
Eligible activities, programs, or materials are those that were initiated, completed, published, or produced in the period from January 1, 2025, to December 31, 2025. Entries must be received no later than January 16, 2026.
Selection
The awards selection committee is made up of Drive Safe Hampton Roads members. Entries will be judged on the potential impact on the community, use of volunteers and private sector resources, creativity and imagination, quality of content, and supporting materials that enhance the project.
Notification
Winners will be notified by February 2026.
Presentation
An individual award and/or an organizational award may be given in each category.
Lifetime Safety Achievement Award: Presented for lifetime achievement in the area of transportation safety.
Employer Safety: Presented to employers who have taken the extra initiative to promote traffic safety and encourage their employees to practice safe driving behaviors.
Martin H. Schlosser Award for Traffic Safety Activism: Presented for outstanding efforts in effecting transportation safety improvements through citizen education and behavior or through government awareness and action efforts.
Roadway Innovations: Presented to individuals and/or organizations that show exemplary achievement in the design and/or implementation of roadway engineering techniques, technology, and innovative approaches.
Impaired Driving Prevention: Presented to individuals and/or organizations who encourage the prevention of drunk, drowsy, drugged and/or distracted driving.
Law Enforcement Initiatives: Presented to a law enforcement department and/or individual who has shown extra initiative above and beyond the normal duties to promote and encourage traffic safety within their community.
Legal Initiatives: Presented to attorneys, judges, or legislators who have actively supported safety issues, thus strengthening existing laws and creating new laws that impact communities to help improve or reduce roadway safety-related behaviors.
Messaging/Media: Presented to individuals or organizations, including but not limited to media representatives or news outlets, that have created messaging, used an innovative outreach method, or have helped spread the word about traffic safety through reporting or programming.
Occupant Protection: Presented for promoting and encouraging the use of safety belts and/or child safety seats through creative and innovative programs and activities.
Transportation Safety: Presented to individuals or organizations who develop educational approaches to the public and/or private sector to promote traffic safety for drivers and riders.
Youth Traffic Safety: Presented to individuals, organizations, and/or programs which educate youth and spread the message regarding the importance of youth traffic safety.
Emergency Response Services: Presented to individuals or organizations for actions at crash scenes and/or efforts that have a broader impact on improving at-scene safety and/or survivability and injury reduction for victims.
