Mike Dreznes Hired to Spearhead IRF Global Road Safety Coordination Role

For Immediate Release: February 8, 2012

(Alexandria, VA) – The International Road Federation is pleased to announce the addition of Michael G. Dreznes to the IRF Washington staff. Mr. Dreznes will serve as executive vice president with global leadership on training, policy and capacity-building activities across IRF’s road safety programs.

“Mike has spent the last twenty-six years working to make roads safer around the world,” said Patrick Sankey, president & CEO, IRF Washington. “He is recognized as one of the world’s leading experts on roadside safety, pioneering the concept of Forgiving Highways, and we are thrilled to have him lead the road safety initiatives of IRF.” Sankey continued, “One of his key areas of responsibility will be to work with road authorities around the world to utilize IRF’s executive training on road safety (Safer Roads by Design™). This Program has been designed to End Needless Deaths on the world’s roads.”

“IRF is where I can truly make a difference,” added Dreznes. “Too many countries around the world are using obsolete roadside safety measures and technologies that should have been replaced twenty years ago. Working through a variety of instruments and with the support of IRF and its Members, I will collaborate with road authorities, concessionaires, design consulting engineers, academia and other safety stakeholders to encourage the replacement of outdate technology and to introduce state-of-the-art practices in countries around the world, thereby assisting governments with their commitment to the UN Decade of Action to reduce fatalities by 50% by 2020.”

Mr. Dreznes is the co-chairman of the Transportation Research Board Roadside Safety Design Subcommittee on International Research Activities; and a member of the TRB AFB20 Committee on Roadside Safety Design.

Founded in 1948, the International Road Federation (IRF) is a non-governmental, not-for-profit organization with members from both the public and private sectors in 90 countries worldwide. IRF promotes the development and maintenance of better, safer roads and road networks throughout the world, using technological solutions and management practices that provide maximum economic and social returns from road investment.

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