Together for Safer Roads to Honor Leaders in Road Safety: Estrella Merlos and Bryan Fenster to Be Recognized for Significant Contributions to Road & Fleet Safety at TSR’s 2025 Member Reception
New York, NY (September 15, 2025)—Together for Safer Roads (TSR), a leading international NGO focused on building cross-sector partnerships to enhance fleet trucking safety, will recognize two outstanding leaders receiving the 2025 Vision Zero Awards during its Annual Member Reception in New York City on October 7, 2025.
Estrella Merlos, Global Head of Road Safety at the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR), will receive the Global Vision Zero Leadership Award.
Bryan Fenster, Project Manager of Connected Fleets at McNeilus Truck and Manufacturing, Inc., will be presented with the Lenin Fierro Vision Zero Fleet Advocacy Award.
The awards will be presented during TSR’s Member Reception on October 7, held in advance of the annual Vision Zero Fleet Safety Forum, which takes place from 7:30am to 4pm on October 8 at the Queens Theatre in Queens, NY.
Estrella Merlos is being recognized for her strong support of reaching Vision Zero goals across the globe and tireless commitment to creating scalable, innovative road safety solutions grounded in capacity building, stakeholder engagement and partnership development. At UNITAR, she has advanced programs and initiatives that directly support the Second Decade of Action for Road Safety, including the Partnership for Action on Road Safety, the Safe Mobility for All & 4 Life, and the Fleet Safety Global Training Programme, which was developed in partnership with Together for Safer Roads and is based on TSR’s FOCUS on Fleet Safety program. The first training under this global initiative was held in July 2025 in Nigeria, bringing public and private sector leaders from multiple nations together to strengthen fleet safety practices. She has also championed effective, technology-based safety tools such as VR training for youth and law enforcement officers, helping communities worldwide make measurable progress toward eliminating traffic-related deaths and serious injuries.
Bryan Fenster is being honored for his outstanding commitment as a champion of fleet safety throughout his long career in the waste and recycling industry, during which he has demonstrated creative, passionate, and effective leadership. In his current role at McNeilus Truck and Manufacturing, he advocates for and advances best-in-class vehicle design, where safety is paramount, setting a model for the broader industry. As chair of TSR’s Direct Vision Leadership Council, he plays a critical role in driving efforts to reduce blind zones and improve visibility standards in fleet vehicles. The award being presented to him is named in honor of the late Lenin Fierro, a former NYC DCAS employee and long-time safety advocate. It is given annually to an individual whose leadership, positivity, and personal dedication transforms organizations and helps them drive towards Vision Zero.
“We’re proud to celebrate Estrella Merlos and Bryan Fenster, whose bold, collaborative approaches are making a real difference on the ground and in boardrooms alike,” said Peter Goldwasser, Executive Director of Together for Safer Roads. “Their efforts exemplify what it means to be part of a global movement toward safer, more equitable roads.”
“I am honored to accept the Global Vision Zero Leadership Award and thank Together for Safer Roads (TSR) not only for this recognition, but for their mission to support road safety globally,” said Estrella Merlos. “UNITAR is proud to work alongside TSR and other committed partners to empower individuals and institutions with the knowledge and training needed to save lives worldwide.”
Bryan Fenster added: “I’m incredibly grateful to be selected for the Lenin Fierro Vision Zero Fleet Advocacy Award. I’m committed to continuing this work with my peers and partners to make sure safety remains at the heart of how we design and operate fleet vehicles.”
This year’s Vision Zero Fleet Safety Forum, co-hosted with the New York City Department of Citywide Administrative Services (DCAS), will take place on Wednesday, October 8, 2025, at the Queens Theatre in Flushing Meadows Corona Park. The forum will bring together 400+ leading officials from across the fleet safety industry, including key stakeholders from the public and private sectors, government officials, innovative safety technology companies, policy experts, and road safety advocates. The event will feature keynote speeches, panel discussions, breakout sessions, and opportunities for networking—all centered on improving safety for fleets and the communities they operate in and serve. Those wishing to attend the Forum can register at https://visionzero2025.rsvpify.com/.
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About the Global Vision Zero Leadership Award and Lenin Fierro Vision Zero Fleet Advocacy Award
The Global Vision Zero Leadership Award is presented to an individual who has demonstrated a leadership role in the global Vision Zero movement by making commitments to help eliminate serious traffic-related injuries and deaths. The Lenin Fierro Vision Zero Fleet Advocacy Award is presented to an individual who has the leadership, positivity, commitment, approachability, and personal dedication to transforming organizations toward the goals of Vision Zero.
About Together For Safer Roads
Together for Safer Roads (TSR)—a leading international NGO focused on building cross-sector partnerships to enhance fleet trucking safety—leverages the technology, data, and expertise of the private sector to create innovative programs aimed at preventing traffic crashes, injuries, and fatalities around the world. TSR members include some of the largest and most influential fleets worldwide, as well as best-in-class road safety technology businesses—companies driven to save lives.
Learn more: www.togetherforsaferroads.org