EPHRATA - The Washington State Public Health Association (WSPHA) has recognized the Central Basin Traffic Safety Task Force (CBTSTF) with the Health Champions - Get Out Ahead Award.

The recognition is for demonstrating excellence in efforts to improve and protect the public's health in Washington. The CBTSTF conducts motor vehicle death and injury prevention in Grant, Adams, and Lincoln Counties.

Grant County has one of the highest motor vehicle death and injury rates in Washington. Over the past nine years, the CBTSTF has been working in partnership with public health, emergency medical services, law enforcement and Safe Kids Grant County to reduce this rate.

Since the CBTSTF began in 2000, its efforts have contributed to the overall reductions in the motor vehicle death rates for adults and children as well as adult injury hospitalization rate.