David Harkey headshot

DAVID HARKEY

President | IIHS

David Harkey is the President of the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety and the Highway Loss Data Institute. Before joining IIHS-HLDI in 2018, he directed the University of North Carolina Highway Safety Research Center for 11 years, leading projects to improve roadway design, safety analysis, and data collection. Dr. Harkey has managed major research initiatives for federal agencies and published widely in his field. He holds a doctorate in civil engineering from North Carolina State University and both a master’s and bachelor’s degree from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. Dr. Harkey is active in professional organizations, including the Transportation Research Board and the Institute for Transportation Engineers.

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Safety Summit Presentations

IIHS Roadmap

October 9, 2025 | Regulatory Focus and Actions

David will examine the global safety outlook with a focus on two pressing and interconnected challenges: risky driver behaviors and the protection of vulnerable road users. These issues span borders and demand coordinated action.

Central to the discussion is IIHS’ 30x30 initiative to reduce U.S. road fatalities by 30% by 2030. He will outline how this initiative is shaping IIHS’ approach, including upcoming changes to its TOP SAFETY PICK awards program. These updates are designed to spotlight vehicle technologies that actively mitigate high-risk behaviors behind the wheel.

This discussion will also highlight how IIHS’ efforts align with broader strategies from U.S. and Euro NCAPs, reinforcing the need for global synergy in safety standards and technological advancement.

Panel | Safety as a Mission

October 9, 2025 | Wrap-up and Call to Action

David will join other industry leaders on a panel moderated by Christopher O'Connor, Humanetics CEO, to discuss how we can reduce road fatalities and answer questions from the audience.