Mike Sawyer, PE, is a Senior Safety Engineer at VHB and a contributor to this blog . Prior to joining the firm, Mike served as the State Highway Safety Engineer with the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) where he oversaw the implementation of Virginia’s Strategic Highway Safety Plan. Mike was responsible for coordinating state agencies and safety partners including representatives from Transportation, Education, Health, and Public Safety. He managed the selection and evaluation of 600+ Highway Safety Improvement Projects totaling more than $200M at a state level. Prior to his work at VDOT, he worked for the City of Richmond, VA and utilized the Highway Safety Improvement Program at the local level. As a result, his team cut annual injuries by a third and received ITE’s Public Agency Award for their effective highway safety practices. In addition to safety expertise, Mike also has an extensive background in traffic operations and traffic engineering.
Mike is also a published poet and was inspired by the mission of this blog to write the following:
The table’s set
The turkey’s done
The family’s gathering
For some holiday fun
But you
Are not there
You left
An empty chair
For Holiday Dinner
Where are you?
Is it just a dream?
Surrounding this place
I just wish
I could see your face
For Holiday Dinner
The news
Tells me you’re not coming
It’s a tragedy
On the road to anywhere
Where are you?
Is it just a dream?
Surrounding this place
I just wish
I could see your face
For Holiday Dinner
Buckle up
Be alert
Be sober
Slow down
For Holiday Dinner
