PRSC Earns National Public Service Award

The Permian Road Safety Coalition was recognized on the national stage this week, receiving a Public Service Award from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) at the Lifesavers Conference on Roadway Safety in Baltimore, MD.

PRSC President and CEO Mike Smith accepted the award on behalf of the coalition, honoring the organization’s innovative work bringing together public and private partners to reduce roadway fatalities across the Permian Basin.

Presented by NHTSA (the U.S. Department of Transportation’s lead agency for highway safety,) the Public Service Award recognizes individuals and organizations achieving measurable results in reducing traffic deaths and injuries. Since its inception in 1983, fewer than 400 recipients nationwide have received this distinction.

The PRSC was selected for its leadership in advancing public-private partnerships and employer-driven safety training, a model that continues to drive real progress across West Texas and Southeast New Mexico.

With more than 39,000 lives lost on U.S. roadways in 2024 alone, this recognition underscores the importance of the work being done in the Permian Basin—and highlights the PRSC as a model for collaboration and impact nationwide.

From coordinating multi-agency training to engaging employers and industry leaders, PRSC’s approach proves that meaningful change happens when a region comes together around a shared mission.

This national honor reflects what we’ve long known: when the Permian Basin leads, lives are saved.