Edward ‘Dave’ Adams awarded Georgia Governor’s Public Safety Award, lauded for his devoted career to traffic safety

ATLANTA, GA – Georgia Department of Transportation (Georgia DOT) announce that Edward “Dave” Adams has received the Georgia Governor’s Public Safety Award in the “Outstanding Contribution to the Profession” category. Governor Brian P. Kemp personally awarded Adams with the honor at a ceremony held recently at the Georgia Public Safety Training Center in Forsyth. 

Adams currently serves as State Safety Manager in Georgia DOT’s Crash Reporting Office. He joined the department in August 1999 and has devoted his career at Georgia DOT to enhancing traffic safety for all Georgia drivers. Adams was recognized for his efforts by Georgia DOT Commissioner Russell R. McMurry at this month’s State Transportation Board meeting in Atlanta, where the commissioner highlighted Dave’s receipt of the award

The Governor’s Public Safety Awards Program was initiated in 1998 in order to provide an opportunity for the men and women working in public safety in Georgia to be recognized for outstanding service to their communities and contributions to their professions.

As director of the Georgia Accident Electronic Reporting System (GEARS), Adams oversees the processing of over 325,000 crash reports annually from more than 400 law enforcement agencies statewide. This vital data is essential in making informed, data-driven decisions to enhance roadway safety. Georgia relies heavily on this crash data to direct billions of dollars in safety projects aimed at reducing incidents and saving lives on its roads. 

In 2017, under Adams’ leadership, the Georgia DOT Crash Reporting Office completely redesigned the Georgia Crash Report, which law enforcement agencies across the state use to document all roadway incidents, including private property crashes. This update, achieved through a collaborative effort involving the Georgia Office of Highway Safety, the Georgia Department of Public Safety, the Georgia Association of Chiefs of Police, and multiple law enforcement partners, has transformed how crash reports are submitted. Today, approximately 95% of all crash reports are filed electronically through the GEARS system, using software provided by over 10 private vendors. 

Adams also spearheaded the development of the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) Numetric Traffic Safety Platform – a data-driven traffic safety solution now used by traffic safety organizations statewide. Under Adams’ guidance, the platform has gained national recognition through AASHTO and is utilized by highway safety professionals across the United States.

Most recently, Adams directed the creation of Georgia DOT’s first web-based crash report instruction manual, providing crash investigators with real-time access to critical crash reporting information. This resource is essential to ensuring the accuracy and consistency of the crash data that supports statewide safety improvements.

Georgia Department of Transportation plans, constructs and maintains Georgia’s state and federal highways. We’re involved in bridge, waterway, public transit, rail, general aviation, bike and pedestrian programs. And we help local governments maintain their roads. Georgia DOT and its nearly 4,000 employees are committed to delivering a transportation system focused on innovation, safety, sustainability, and mobility. The Department’s vision is to boost Georgia’s competitiveness through leadership in transportation.