Who presents the Texas Impaired Driving Safety Awards?
The Texas Impaired Driving Task Force – in conjunction with the Texas Department of Transportation – present the awards.
How many awards are given each year?
There are 3 awards that are given each year:
- The Texas Impaired Driving Safety Champion
- The Texas Impaired Driving Difference Maker(s)
- Honorable Mention(s)
The number of awards given can vary. Award decisions are based on quality and strength of the nominations. However, there will only be 1 (ONE) Texas Impaired Driving Safety Champion named each year. All nominations are considered for each award.
Who can nominate an individual or organization?
Nominations can be self-made or an individual/organization/law enforcement officer/prosecutor can be nominated by another individual or group. No consideration will be placed on whether a nomination was self-made or by another individual or group.
Who is eligible for award?
- Any Texas law enforcement officer, prosecutor, educator, advocate, employer, or organization that has made a substantial impact in addressing and reducing impaired driving in their community or across the state.
- Current Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) Traffic Safety Subgrantees and Texas Impaired Driving Task Force members are eligible to receive an award as long as the nominee’s position/organization is not 100% funded by a TxDOT traffic safety grant.
- Previous Texas Impaired Driving Task Force members are eligible to receive an award as long as the nominee’s position/organization is not 100% funded by a TxDOT Traffic Safety grant.
- TxDOT employees are ineligible to receive an award based on their work with TxDOT.
- Previous Texas Impaired Driving Difference Maker and Honorable Mention winners are eligible to receive awards in the future; however, previous Texas Impaired Driving Safety Champion award winners are ineligible to receive future awards
Is this a competitive award process?
Yes, this is a competitive award process.
How does the selection process work?
The Texas Impaired Driving Task Force is supported by the Awards Selection Subcommittee. The Subcommittee will review and consider all nominations received by the established deadline.
The Subcommittee will select 3 nominees to present to the Texas Impaired Driving Task Force for a blind vote. Identifying information in the application is removed for the purpose of anonymity. The nominee with the most number of votes will be recognized as the Texas Impaired Driving Safety Champion; the other 2 nominees will be recognized as the Texas Impaired Driving Difference Maker.
The Subcommittee will also identify recipients for the Honorable Mention award. The number of Honorable Mention awards given will depend upon the quantity and quality of nominations received.
How will award winners be notified?
Nominators will be notified of the outcome via email no later than November 30 of each year.
How will the Texas Impaired Driving Safety Champion be recognized?
- The Texas Impaired Driving Safety Champion will be recognized and honored with a glass award on stage at the Texas Impaired Driving Forum.
- A spotlight video featuring the Safety Champion will also be aired at the Forum, detailing the Champion’s efforts and accomplishments.
- The Safety Champion will be recognized via the Texas Impaired Driving Task Force’s website and social media channels.
How will the Texas Impaired Driving Difference Maker be recognized?
- The Texas Impaired Driving Difference Maker(s) will be recognized and honored with a plaque on stage at the Texas Impaired Driving Forum.
- The Difference Maker(s) will be recognized via the Texas Impaired Driving Task Force’s website and social media channels.
How will the Honorable Mention winner be recognized?
- Honorable Mention winners will be asked to stand at the Texas Impaired Driving Forum (if present), but they will not be called to the stage; Honorable Mention winners will receive a certificate in the mail.
- Honorable Mention winners will be recognized via the Texas Impaired Driving Task Force’s website and social media channels.
