(Charlotte, NC) Today Major League Baseball received the Lifesavers award from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) for its accomplishments in promoting highway safety. MLB joined 17 other individuals and groups from across the nation.

NHTSA Administrator Jeffrey W. Runge, M.D. presented the awards at the 23rd Annual Lifesavers conference after delivering a speech during the conference luncheon in front of more than 1,800 law enforcement officers and traffic safety professionals.

“The work of saving lives on our highways cannot be done only from Washington. It is accomplished because of scientists, educators, engineers, enforcers, health care practitioners, and thoughtful citizens who care enough about the daily tragedies on our roadways to do something about it,” Dr. Runge said.

Major League Baseball received the award for exemplary and exceptional leadership in developing and implementing the “Responsibility Has Its Rewards” campaign in America’s ball fields, to improve roadway safety and save lives nationwide. The campaign successfully registered over 160,000 baseball fans to be designated drivers to make sure their friends and families got home safely after attending MLB games during the 2004 season.

Two designated drivers – from the Boston Red Sox and St. Louis Cardinals - won tickets to watch their favorite teams in the World Series. And a designated driver from the Philadelphia Phillies will enjoy the 2005 MLB All-Star Game in Detroit at Comerica Park in July 2005.

The Responsibility Has Its Rewards campaign is one of several ways Major League Baseball ensures its fans demonstrate positive fan behavior and consume alcohol responsibly. Strictly enforcing alcohol service policies, training employees in effective alcohol management, and promoting the fan code of conduct are other ways MLB ensures a safe environment for fans to enjoy the game of baseball through a partnership with TEAM Coalition.

TEAM Coalition is a non-profit alliance of professional and collegiate sports, entertainment facilities, concessionaires, the beer industry, broadcasters, governmental traffic safety experts, and others working together to promote responsible drinking and positive fan behavior at sports and entertainment facilities.

TEAM Coalition members and supporters include Major League Baseball, Major League Soccer, National Basketball Association, National Football League, National Hockey League, National Collegiate Athletic Association, ARAMARK, Beer Institute, Anheuser-Busch Companies, Miller Brewing Company, Coors Brewing Company, National Association of Broadcasters, ESPN ABC Sports, International Association of Assembly Managers, and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.