Transportation industry officials kept a close eye on proceedings in Washington, DC, recently when the Senate Commerce Committee unanimously approved the nomination of Mark R. Rosekind, PhD, to head the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).
Rosekind was nominated by President Obama last November to head the agency which is responsible for setting standards for motor vehicle and highway safety. The full Senate will now consider Rosekind’s nomination.
As one of the world’s leading human fatigue experts, Rosekind has been a Member of the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) since 2010. In this role he has brought greater attention to the prevalent public safety threats posed by fatigue, circadian misalignment and untreated sleep disorders. His expertise and proven leadership is expected to help the NHTSA fulfill its mission to save lives, prevent injuries and reduce economic costs due to road traffic crashes through education, research, safety standards and enforcement activity.
Incoming Commerce Chairman John Thune (R-SD) said that he hopes Rosekind is confirmed before lawmakers adjourn. In the meantime, the American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM) is asking that its members continue to contact their U.S. Senators and request that they support Rosekind’s confirmation.
