Edmund King (pictured right), president of the Automobile Association (AA), is among a number of transport professionals to be recognised in the New Year’s Honours list.
Mr King, who became AA president in 2008, has seen his services to road safety rewarded as he was made an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE). He tweeted: "Honoured, humbled, delighted & a bit surprised. Thanks to my teams past and present."
In a long career, Mr King has held key positions, including as campaigns co-coordinator for the British Road Federation, while in 1999 he became the first director of the RAC Foundation.
In an interview with the Herts Advertiser, Mr King said his OBE was a "clear reflection of the efforts of my present and past colleagues and road safety partners and organisations I have worked with over the years.
He added: “In the UK we have made great advances in road safety over the last 20 years, but there is still much more to do when five people are killed on the roads every day.”
Also recognised is Steve Gooding, the current director of the RAC Foundation, who has been made a Companion of the Order of the Bath (CB), for public service to transport.
Mr Gooding (pictured left), assumed his current role with the RAC Foundation in May 2015, having held the position of director general of the DfTt’s Roads, Traffic and Local Group and has also been responsible for overseeing the work of the DVLA, the DVSA, and the VCA.
In an interview with West Sussex Today, Mr Gooding, who is set to speak at Young Driver Focus 2016, said: “Getting this honour is really a recognition of the hard work of the huge number of people I’ve worked with over my 32 years in the civil service, throughout the transport sector, and in particular the people who have worked to promote transport safety and deliver the projects that get us where we need to be.”
Another recognised was Dana Skelley (pictured top centre), Transport for London’s (TfL’s) director of asset management for Surface Transport, who was made an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE).
In recent years, Ms Skelley has overseen a range of major engineering scheme, including strengthening the Hammersmith flyover and the successful implementation of the Olympic Route Network for the London 2012 Games.
Ms Skelley said: “It’s an immense privilege to receive this honour, which I hope will encourage more women to consider a career in transport, including engineering.
“Women are increasingly playing an important role in major projects across London, and with more companies now offering young people apprentice and graduate opportunities, together we can help ensure the Capital continues to grow and prosper.”
Others recognised for their services to transport include:
- Clare Moriarty (pictured bottom centre), lately director-general, rail executive, Department for Transport was made a Companion of the Order of the Bath (CB).
- Ruth Mary Fagan, adviser on cycling policy at the DfT, was awarded the Medal of the Order of the British Empire (BEM).
- Nigel Blackler, head of strategy, enterprise and environment at Cornwall Council, was made and Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE), for services to transport in Cornwall.
- Robert Devereux, permanent secretary, Department for Work and Pensions, has become a Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath (KCB) for services to transport and welfare and for voluntary service in Kilburn, London.
- Professor Kim Wolff has become a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) for public service to road safety, including work on drug driving.
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