IRU salutes hero of the road

Istanbul – During the opening ceremony of the 31st IRU World Congress, IRU President, Janusz Lacny, today awarded to Barthel Green the IRU Grand Prix d’Honneur*, as an international recognition by the entire profession of the outstanding act of courage he performed in November 2006.

While driving his vehicle in the City of Charleston (South Carolina, USA), Barthel Green noticed a school bus driving unusually slow in the centre lane. Pulling up his rig for a closer look, he discovered that the bus driver had passed out and that several children had grabbed the steering wheel and were attempting to steer the vehicle.

Mr. Green sped up his truck, passed the bus and pulled over. After exiting his vehicle, he ran alongside the school bus and opened the door to board the bus. He then managed to steer it safely off the road and called for help.
When asked how he was able to think of a solution so quickly, Green simply said: “I used to drive a bus and have been driving a truck for years. I knew all I needed to know to get this job done.”

Handing the award, Mr. Lacny stated, “In our modern society, ordinary people still find themselves in extraordinary situations and perform heroic acts. Thanks to Mr. Green’s immediate, professional and courageous intervention, the young children on the bus were saved. The IRU is proud to count such a man among the ranks of its member associations. With men like Mr. Green, our industry is worthily served and represented.”

Barthel Green is a citizen of the United States of America and works as a contract driver for the container hauler Bridge Terminal Transport, a member of the America Trucking Associations (ATA). ATA is the IRU’s goods transport Member Association in the USA.

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* The “Grand Prix d’Honneur” was created in 1967 as a distinction to be awarded by an international jury at IRU congresses to a driver or drivers in international road transport who perform an outstanding act of courage in the course of their professional duties.

The jury which attributed the IRU Grand Prix d’Honneur 2008 comprised: Eva Molnár (Director, Transport Division, United Nations Economic Commission for Europe - UNECE), Peter Meyer (Administrative Director, Fédération internationale de l’Automobile/Alliance internationale de tourisme - AIT/FIA), Sybille Rupprecht (Director General, International Road Federation), and Janusz Lacny (President, International Road Transport Union).