Driving Change: OTS Director Stephanie Dougherty on Safety, Strategy, and Career Growth

On Wednesday, March 26, USC ITE welcomed Ms. Stephanie Dougherty to a virtual speaker series event. During the one-hour presentation and Q&A, ITE members and professionals gained valuable insights about what it’s like to work in the transportation industry, the agency’s ongoing efforts to improve traffic safety, and general life advice. 

In December 2024, Governor Gavin Newsom appointed Stephanie Dougherty as Director of the California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS). Director Dougherty has over 25 years of experience in both the public and private sectors, with experiencing working extensively on legislative and policy issues.

Prior to directing OTS, Director Dougherty served as Deputy Secretary of Transportation Safety and Enforcement at the California State Transportation Agency (CalSTA). While deputy secretary, she was a key contributor in shaping safety programs and policies. Director Dougherty was instrumental in coordinating the Zero Traffic Fatalities Task Force and—of particular interest to us—the Autonomous Vehicles Strategic Framework, which we asked her about in our Q&A. She has also served as Chief of Enterprise Planning and Performance at the Department of Motor Vehicles. In addition, she has held project management positions at Deloitte Consulting and Blue Shield of California, as well as research and policy positions for state commissions. 

In her presentation, Director Dougherty shared her personal journey working with numerous state agencies as well as her current work as the Director of the California OTS. Attendees learned that, as OTS Director, Dougherty acts as the Governor’s Representative for Highway Safety at the federal level, overseeing an annual budget of more than $140 million. Additionally, she plays an important role in fostering meaningful community engagement, strengthening collaboration with traffic safety partners, and promoting a strong safety culture to uphold the OTS mission of saving lives. 

One OTS project that Director Dougherty highlighted was the agency’s various behavioral safety programs used to educate the public about transportation safety and discourage reckless driving. As she noted, drivers’ actions are largely out of OTS’s control, but workshops and targeted information campaigns (e.g., posting eye-catching advertisements that highlight the dangers of intoxicated or distracted driving) can help increase awareness and, thereby, reduce accidents.

During the Q&A, we asked specifically what Director Dougherty thought about autonomous vehicles (AVs) and their place in LA’s transportation environment. A handful of USC ITE members are currently working on a technical project about AV safety and the factors related to collision severity, so we wanted to learn what she thinks about their widespread implementation. According to Director Dougherty, integrating AVs will require carefully evaluating infrastructure limitations as well as public-sentiment. Only if LA’s built environment and social context are prepared for AVs will they be successful. Director Dougherty also noted the challenge of legally defining how AVs will be used, owned, and regulated if they do become widespread, which adds another layer to the issue.  

Director Dougherty earned her B.A. in History at Stanford University—a somewhat unconventional entry point to the transportation industry. From her personal experience in a variety of roles, Director Dougherty shared that there is no one path to working in transportation. She also encouraged attendees to take opportunities as they come, even if they are not what they originally planned. Director Dougherty’s career pathway was not always a straight line, but through her many different positions, she gained diverse perspectives on solving issues as they arise, which is applicable in any industry. 

It was truly an honor to host Director Dougherty! Attendees gained valuable knowledge on the many functions of the California OTS and diverse projects Director Dougherty is tasked to tackle every day. Dougherty was an amazing resource to answer all of our pressing questions—whether they were transportation related or not. From our conversation, we not only learned about the agencies that keep us safe but were inspired by her journey working in so many roles within the transportation industry. 

We want to extend an immense thank you to Director Stephanie Dougherty for taking time out of her busy schedule to share her insights with us!