"As you become involved, you become more knowledgeable, I think, and more passionate about how can we improve the way we drive in order to make our roads safer."
He said his greatest achievements were being part of implementing a drive sober course, and pushing to get alcohol interlocks and a lower alcohol limits.
"I'd like to think I'm passionate about talking about, thinking about, writing about road safety," Williamson said.
Williamson's road safety roles followed other community service roles at not-for-profit organisation Jaycees and the Northland Chamber of Commerce.
His role at the chamber of commerce led to a role on the Northland Regional Council transport committee and then the AA Northland District Council, founded in 1997.
This led to his role as chairman of the Northland Road Safety Trust.
Williamson received a Queen's Service Medal in the New Year's Honours list for services to the community.
He said there were a number of important things people should do to stay safe on the road.
Seatbelts were vital for preventing deaths and serious injuries in crashes, he said.
"Buckle up - about 40 per cent of our road toll can be a consequence of people not being restrained.
"I would like to see a focus more on making sure people are restrained in their cars."
There is also an issue in relation to driver licensing in Northland, he said, and programmes to help young people get licences were important.
The Northland Road Safety Trust currently runs six driver licensing programmes in Whangārei and Kaipara.
A large part of what the trust focused on, Williamson said, is educating drivers rather than advertising or media campaigns.
While road maintenance and correct speed limits were important, he said the key was driver behaviour.
"Think about what you're doing in relation to drugs and alcohol, and think about the other drivers and endeavour to be courteous.
"We want to make the roads as safe as we can and as friendly as we can," he said.
