May 2023

Summaries of timely road safety news, events, and alerts

Message from NETS' Executive Director,
Susan Hipp

I read recently “a great leader has a great story.” This was said by one of NETS Keynote Speakers who will be coming to share a great story at our upcoming Annual Strength IN Numbers® Fleet Safety Benchmark Conference October 10-12. More to come on this exciting speaker once we officially announce our lineup!

But in the meantime, let’s talk about that quote. We often hear that a great leader has many strengths and positive attributes such as humility, honesty, the ability to help people find their own strengths, the ability to listen, and a clear focus to get the job done. But a great story? That’s not something we hear as often.

All of us in fleet safety have a story to tell about why we’re here, working every day to improve road safety and ensure that no more lives are lost to crashes. Perhaps the story is personal, having lost a loved one to a senseless distracted driving crash. Or maybe the story is about a previous career investigating crash scenes and seeing the behind-the-scenes trauma of the aftermath. Or maybe the story is simply about wanting to make a difference in the world and choosing road safety as a means to improve the lives of others.

Whatever the story, I invite you to come share yours and network at one of NETS upcoming 2023 Conferences either the EMEA Regional Conference in Paris in September, or NETS Annual Strength IN Numbers® Fleet Safety Benchmark Conference in October, and hear the stories of other fleet safety professionals. You will also learn what our Keynote Speaker means by “a great leader has a great story.” I’m sure there’s a great story behind that quote. 

Drive Safe!
Susan Hipp
Executive Director, NETS
NETS ANNOUNCEMENTS
REGISTRATION NOW OPEN
for NETS 2023 Conferences!
Regular Rate: $350
Government/NGO: $149
Note: conference presentations will be in English
Mercure Paris Porte de Versailles Expo Hotel
There is no NETS room block so rooms are available on a first come first serve basis. Reserve your room here or at another hotel of your choice. Other hotel options can be found on our website.
ACT NOW! EARLY BIRD RATES UNTIL JUNE 30:
NETS Members: $599
Non-NETS Members: $679
Government/Non-profit: $249
Conrad Indianapolis
A special room block has been reserved for NETS Conference attendees at the rate of $229 USD plus tax. Reserve your room now!
NEW THIS YEAR! Call for NETS Conference Presentations

Are you interested in speaking at NETS Annual Strength IN Numbers Fleet Safety Benchmark Conference? For the first time ever, we are putting out a call for presentations for anyone who is interested in speaking.

Read more
trafficsafety.org
NETSTalk Now: Driving Change, A NETS Road Safety Podcast

Join leading global road safety experts to hear the latest in road safety technology, innovations, and best practices. Each month we will explore topics on advancing road safety and reducing risk on the world’s roadways.

Read more
trafficsafety.org
UPCOMING NETS SPONSOR WEBINAR
Safety Webinar: How to Avoid Your Fleet's Greatest Cost
Wednesday June 28, 2023
2:00 - 3:00pm EDT

Do you know that one in every 3.3 accidents results in injuries to involved parties? With the average cost of a Workers Comp claim resulting from a motor vehicle accident exceeding $85,000, not to mention the revenue losses, asset costs, and liability settlements that can ensue, accidents are the costliest issue facing fleets today.

Organizations can do several things to help avoid accidents, protecting not only their employees, but also owner’s equity and shareholder value. This webinar will explore why avoiding accidents should be a top initiative for every fleet, and the strategies you can employ to minimize the risk of collisions.
Attendees will take away a clear plan of action to reduce accident risk, and to minimize accident severity and liability costs should collisions occur.

What you will learn
  • How the cost of fleet accidents compares to other costly issues facing fleets today.
  • Real world lessons from other fleets on how to reduce accident rates
  • How your fleet safety program can evolve to meet a changing business environment

~Thanks to NETS Platinum level sponsor, CEI, for hosting this webinar.~
NETS SPONSORS
NETS is proud to partner with the following PLATINUM Fleet Safety Sponsors:

Lytx is the global leader in fleet management technologies. Our solutions harness the power of video to empower drivers and fleets to be safer and more efficient, productive, and profitable so they can thrive in today’s competitive environment. Through the Lytx platform, direct and reseller clients access our customizable services and programs spanning driver safety, risk detection, fleet tracking, compliance, preventative maintenance, and fuel management. Using the world’s largest driving database of its kind, along with proprietary machine vision and artificial intelligence technology, we help protect and connect thousands of fleets and 1.6 million drivers in more than 60 countries worldwide. For more information on Lytx video telematics systems, visit www.lytx.com@lytx on Twitter, LinkedIn, our Facebook page or our YouTube channel.

SOBRsafe’s mission is to save lives and create safer work environments.

The annual cost of alcohol abuse in the U.S. is $249 billion. Nearly half of all industrial accidents with injuries are alcohol-related, and 1-in-10 U.S. commercial drivers test positive for alcohol (the highest rate worldwide).

In response, SOBRsafe has developed an instantaneous and hygienic alcohol screening technology that integrates seamlessly with driver check-in/out processes. The employee simply places two fingers on the device, and within ten seconds, their identity is verified and the alcohol test complete. All scans are reported in real-time to a secure cloud-based portal, and supervisors are immediately notified via SMS and email if alcohol has been detected.

This comprehensive, uniform testing is allowing SOBRsafe customers to enhance their safety, reduce insurance premiums by up to 25%, and create a culture of prevention.

Mobile device distractions put employees in danger and companies at risk. So why would anyone settle for safety measures that simply report what went wrong, or only work when people remember to turn them on? TRUCE Software automatically suspends distracting mobile apps and functions depending on what your employee is doing, where they are working or even the workgroup they are part of. You define the policy and TRUCE ensures compliance when and where it’s needed. Supporting more than 100,000 subscribers and some of the largest brands worldwide, our patented technology is making workplaces everywhere safer.


Volvo Cars is a multinational passenger car manufacturer based in Gothenburg, Sweden. The first Volvo car rolled off the Gothenburg production line in Sweden in 1927. Since then, Volvo Car Group has been a world-leader in safety technology and innovation. From the very outset Volvo Cars has been a brand for people who care about the world and the people around us. We have made it our mission to make life easier, better and safer for everyone.

Volvo is behind some of the most important inventions and innovations in the history of car safety, and we are continuously improving your safety. Among those innovations are the three-point seat belt (1959); rearward facing child seat (1972) and the booster cushion (1978); side impact protection system (1991) and the side air-bag (1994); the blind spot information system, BLIS (1994) and many more safety innovations.

Today, Volvo is one of the most well-known and respected car brands in the world with sales in more than 100 countries. Volvo’s goal is that no one should be seriously injured or killed in a new Volvo car. An important step in that direction is the introduction of LIDAR in our new fully electric flagship SUV, the Volvo EX90.

CEI is North America’s largest provider of fully integrated fleet accident management, fleet safety and fleet risk management services.

As a top fleet management services company, CEI is committed to providing the most effective, efficient and user-friendly services for preventing fleet accidents and handling the results of those accidents that still occur. That means an on-going commitment to maintaining the highest-quality and experienced staff, continuing investment in the latest technology, and partnering with our customers to seek constant improvement in their fleet driver management.

eDriving, a Solera company, helps organizations around the world to reduce incidents, collisions, injuries, license violations, carbon emissions, and total cost of fleet ownership through its patented digital driver risk management programs.

At its heart is the Mentor by eDrivingSM smartphone app that identifies risky driving behaviors for intervention and safe driving habits for recognition. In-app features include micro-training and coaching, gamification, collision reporting, vehicle inspections, and an individual FICO® Safe Driving Score validated to predict the likelihood of being involved in a collision. Mentor’s integrated automatic crash detection and Personal SOS features powered by Sfara and Bosch trigger a voice call and emergency support, as needed, from one of Bosch’s Global Call Centers supporting >50 countries. Through its five-stage, patented Crash-Free Culture® risk reduction methodology, eDriving helps organizations embrace safety and reduce risk for Sales, Service, Delivery and Warehouse drivers, all within a privacy-first, data-secure environment.

eDriving is the digital driver risk management partner of choice for many of the world’s largest organizations, supporting over 1.2 million drivers in 125 countries. Over the past 25 years, eDriving’s research-validated programs have been recognized with over 100 awards around the world.
Learn about all of NETS Fleet Safety Sponsors
LATEST ROAD SAFETY NEWS
U.S. Regulators Propose New Tests For Pedestrian Safety Tech

As fatalities among pedestrians rise in the US, NHTSA is proposing new rules that seek to address the issue. The new rules would add a pedestrian crash test to a vehicle’s assessment, and set new standards for automatic emergency braking technology.

Read more
www.carscoops.com
NTSB Says Govt Not Doing Enough About Automated Driving Tech

NTSB chair Jennifer Homendy sharply criticized federal regulators for not doing enough to monitor and test automatic driving technologies. She spoke at an event marking the opening of a Consumer Reports facility that will test increasingly common...

Read more
www.cnn.com
Small Cars Falter in Updated Moderate Overlap Crash Test

None of the five small cars IIHS tested earns a good rating in the updated moderate overlap front crash test, which includes a second dummy positioned in the rear seat.

Read more
www.iihs.org
WORKPLACE / HOME ROAD SAFETY
Beyond the Basics: 5 New Uses for Telematics
In the years since the first fleet telematics solutions were introduced, the ubiquitous black boxes have become the equivalent of a Swiss Army knife for optimizing vehicle and driver performance. Asset location? Check. Fuel consumption and idling? Check. Engine diagnostics? Route optimization? Identification of risky driver behavior for scorecarding? Check, check, check.

www.automotive-fleet.com
Four Defensive Driving Principles

Many people talk about defensive driving, but not many know exactly what it is. True defensive driving boils down to behaviors, and we’ve created an easy-to-remember mnemonic to define four principles are essential defensive driving habits.

Read more
avatarms.com
Tips for Sharing the Road with Heavy Vehicles
Did you know? Over 75% of crashes and near-crashes involving heavy vehicles are primarily caused by car drivers. Three-quarters! Clearly, we have a problem here that needs to be addressed.

cmvroadsharing.org
Key Components of an Effective Fleet Safety Program
Because every fleet is unique, safety programs can vary widely from one organization to another. The safety program for a large municipal fleet might be very different than that of a small business with just a dozen vehicles. However, experts agree that there are some essential ingredients common to all effective fleet safety programs.

automotive-fleet.com
Fleets Unbundling SMR for Electric Vehicles for Cost Savings

Fleets are unbundling service maintenance and repair for EVs from their lease contracts, believing savings are not being passed on. Chair of the Association of Fleet Professionals, Paul Hollick, says that SMR budgets for EVs is one of the top five...

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www.fleetnews.co.uk
TECHNOLOGY AND INNOVATION
Data Shows Tech Helps Fleets Improve Safe Driving Behaviors

Distracted driving is decreasing with the use of video telematics, helping to reduce commercial vehicle crashes.

Read more
www.ccjdigital.com
Are Self-Driving Trucks the Key to Supply Chain Issues?

Global supply chains remain in crisis after several national and international events. However, a massive truck driver shortage is a significant cause of delays and missed deliveries. Many companies are turning to automated trucks to solve this...

Read more
www.datasciencecentral.com
How AI Is Helping To Improve Transportation Safety

Artificial intelligence (AI) is transforming the transportation industry in many ways, and its impact on safety is undeniable. While the use of AI in vehicle inspection is a significant development, it is one of many other ways that AI is being...

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www.forbes.com
GOVERNMENT AND NON-PROFIT
AGENCY NEWS
Half of Vehicle Occupants Who Died in Crash Were Not Buckled

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is kicking off its annual Click It or Ticket campaign to encourage drivers and passengers to buckle up, reminding everyone that seat belts save lives.

Read more
www.nhtsa.gov
Driving Impaired Cannot Be an Option this Summer

The unofficial start to summer 2023 is a deadly holiday weekend, with nearly 470 people estimated to die on U.S. roads.

Read more
www.nsc.org
Driving Skills for Life Training: Detroit, MI

June 3-4, 2023 Ford Driving Skills for Life free hands-on clinics help newly licensed drivers (teens with a learners permit or license) improve their skills in four key areas that are critical factors in more than 60% of vehicle...

Read more
www.ghsa.org
Driving Skills for Life Training: Louisville, KY

June 17-18, 2023 Ford Driving Skills for Life free hands-on clinics help newly licensed drivers (teens with a learners permit or license) improve their skills in four key areas that are critical factors in more than 60% of...

Read more
www.ghsa.org
INTERNATIONAL ROAD SAFETY
The Hidden Health Burden of Unsafe Roads

Long after the world recovers from the COVID-19 pandemic, another health crisis will require urgent attention: the global road safety crisis. While the number of deaths resulting from road crashes stands at an alarming 1.3 million every year...

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oecd-development-matters.org
UK Permits Hands-Off Level 2 Driver Assistance System

Ford has launched a new driver assistance system called ‘Blue Cruise’ in the UK, which will allow drivers to take their hands off the wheel on certain sections of the UK motorway network. The system is classified as Level 2 automation based on the...

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etsc.eu
How Technology Can Ensure Safety, Save Lives on Indian Roads

Technology-driven active safety measures such as vehicle alerts, remote prognostics, through the connectivity of an advanced driver assistance system, have proven to improve road safety by helping the driver manage or avoid emergency situations...

Read more
auto.economictimes.indiatim...
UPCOMING TRANSPORTATION SAFETY EVENTS
AND CAMPAIGNS
National Seat Belt Enforcement Mobilization: May 22 - June 4, 2023
Seat belts have been proven to be one of the best ways to save your life in a crash. Yet, many still don't buckle up. Worse still, not wearing a seat belt is a habit that will pass on to impressionable youth who, in turn, will think it is safe to not buckle up. The Click It or Ticket campaign focuses on safety education, strong laws, and law enforcement support to save lives.

www.trafficsafetymarketing.gov
June 6 Is Secure Your Load Day
"Secure your load as if everyone you love is driving in the car behind you." Did you know a 20 pound object at 55mph has a force of 1,000 pounds at impact? National GAO report states unsecured loads cause 440 deaths, 10,000 injured and 51,000 incidents. Driving with an unsecured load is both against the law and extremely dangerous.

secureyourload.com
Fleet Safety Symposium 2023

June 22-23 | Indianapolis, Indiana - The need for effective fleet safety programs that ensure a safe work environment for employees throughout the industry could not be more urgent. NAFA’s Fleet Safety Symposium dives deep into the most critical...

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www.nafa.org
Registration: GHSA Annual Meeting

August 12-16, 2023 | New York, NY - This year’s theme, “Connecting Communities: Putting Vision Zero into Action,” affirms the importance of involving communities of all sizes in implementing proven and innovative solutions for preventing crashes.

Read more
www.ghsa.org
Registration: NSC Safety Congress & Expo

October, 2023 | New Orleans, LA - Registration opens June 13.
Professional Development Seminars: October 20-22 and 25-26
Congress & Expo: October 23-25

congress.nsc.org
Do you have a particularly successful road safety example to share? NETS Members are encouraged to share best practices, ask questions or contribute their expertise to the NETS Road Safety Leaders Forum, an online discussion forum exclusively for NETS Members and Sponsors. Not yet a member? Check out the benefits at https://trafficsafety.org/membership-info/.
Note from the editor:
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About NETSWork®
NETSWork is published electronically each month by the Network of Employers for Traffic Safety.
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