Deborah Hersman, president and CEO of the National Safety Council, has been named to the U.S. Department of Transportation Advisory Committee on Automation in Transportation.

The advisory panel provides counsel regarding the use of technology to save lives and help eliminate preventable fatalities in all modes of transportation. 

Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx appointed Hersman to the committee. President-elect Donald Trump has appointed Elaine Chao to be Foxx’s successor. 

Prior to joining the National Safety Council, Hersman served as chairman of the National Transportation Safety Board from 2009 to 2014. She was first appointed as an NTSB board member by President George W. Bush in 2004 and was reappointed to two additional five-year terms by President Barack Obama in 2009 and 2013.

“Hersman’s dedication as a safety advocate and long-time multi-modal transportation expert is exactly the right fit for the Advisory Committee,” said Rose McMurray, a former senior executive with both the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA). 

In October, Hersman worked alongside NHTSA, FMCSA, and the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) to help kick off the “Road to Zero” coalition effort to end roadway fatalities in 30 years.

The coalition is focused on promoting lifesaving strategies and new technologies that can reduce fatalities on American roadways. Tens of thousands of preventable deaths occur on the roadways each year.

“With new technologies and innovative approaches to mobility, we hold the keys to reach a future without transportation fatalities,” Hersman said.