Watch this incredible video arranged by Anthony Garrett, CRASH’s first Executive Director, about CRASH Board Chair and former NHTSA Administrator, Joan Claybrook. Joan’s efforts have helped to prevent thousands of horrific truck crash deaths and injuries. We continue to be inspired by her committed safety leadership and everything she has accomplished to make our roads safer.
Joan Claybrook has been a safety superstar for many years. She is a lawyer and lobbyist who was president of Public Citizen from 1982 to 2008. She also served in the Carter administration as head of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration NHTSA) from 1977 to 1981. She lobbied with Ralph Nader for the successful passage of the nation’s first auto safety laws: the National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act and the Highway Safety Act. She was also involved in efforts for stricter automobile regulations including the 85 MPH speedometer and was a prominent advocate for the use of airbags in automobiles.
The video powerfully captures Joan’s influences growing up, her incredible character and innumerable contributions to safety. There are several photos from TSC press events as well as the infamous time Joan testified before the Senate next to Tom Donohue, then president of ATA, and pulled out the original brochure on triple trailer trucks. She even has an amazing shout out from Robert Redford in the video! Joan has been instrumental to our numerous safety successes over the years and continues to be a force for issues we fight for currently, including the important truck safety provisions on AEB and underride guards achieved in this year’s infrastructure bill.