December 2024


Summaries of timely road safety news, events, and alerts

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Message from NETS' Executive Director,

Susan Hipp





A Year in Review: Celebrating Our 2024 Accomplishments


As the year draws to a close, it’s natural to turn our thoughts to the future. New goals, fresh opportunities, and the promise of a clean slate often dominate our end-of-year mindset. But before we dive headfirst into planning for the year ahead, it’s worth pausing to reflect on the journey we’ve just completed.


By celebrating the milestones we’ve achieved, we set the stage for an even more successful year to come. As we head into 2025, NETS reflects on our accomplishments during the past year, all with the help of our Board of Directors, our NETS members, and our valued NETS Sponsors, without whom we could not accomplish what we do.


Launched the Supply Chain Fleet Safety Benchmark Project

In partnership with the University of Colorado School of Public Health (CO SPH), NETS is conducting a critical study on fleet safety practices among last-mile and middle-mile delivery fleets to inform future fleet safety initiatives for the delivery industry.


Completed the Small Business Fleet Toolkit

In partnership with NETS member insurance companies, NETS developed a comprehensive toolkit tailored to businesses with fewer than 100 vehicles. This resource provides actionable guidance for creating effective fleet safety programs, empowering small businesses to prioritize safety in their operations.


Expanded Member Benefits

NETS added valuable resources for our members, including free access to the National Safety Council Fleet Essentials online training, free training and discount offers from NETS Sponsors, a member mentor program, and new toolbox talks. These additional benefits equip NETS members with essential knowledge to foster safer driving practices within their organizations.


Introduced NETSTalk Safety Toolbox Talks

These new members-only toolkits offer practical insights and resources for specific safe driving topics, helping employees stay informed and engaged in promoting road safety.


Enhanced the Annual Conference Experience

This year, NETS introduced pre-conference Professional Development Courses and seminars, providing attendees with even more opportunities to grow their expertise and network with industry peers.


Recognized Excellence with the NETS Road Safety Awards

NETS continued the tradition of celebrating outstanding contributions to road safety through our Annual NETS Road Safety Awards. This year, we proudly introduced a new category: “Women in Fleet,” honoring the remarkable achievements of women leaders in the field.


Expanded Global Road Safety Efforts

NETS’ commitment to global road safety was exhibited through continued active participation in the United Nations Road Safety Collaboration and promotion of international initiatives like the FIA Road Safety Index. These efforts underscore our dedication to making roads safer worldwide.


As we celebrate these accomplishments, we remain focused on the path ahead. Together, we can create safer roads for everyone. Thank you for being part of our journey this year.


We look forward to "driving" change with you in 2025!

Susan Hipp
Executive Director, NETS
NETS ANNOUNCEMENTS

DID YOU KNOW?

NETS membership includes numerous value-adds at very little cost. If you're a NETS member, contact NETS today to take advantage of the following benefits included with your membership!



  1. Participation in NETS annual benchmark and access to the final benchmark report
  2. Three FREE online training sessions from National Safety Council (Fleet Essentials Course)
  3. NETSTalk Safety periodic Toolbox Talks on a variety of safe driving topics for your drivers
  4. NETS Mentor Program to be paired with an existing NETS member company as a resource for fleet safety program questions
  5. Driver Training opportunities from NETS' Sponsors ADTS and Smith System to include FREE online training classes and reduced rate subscriptions and other fleet safety resources
  6. Discounted membership rate on annual National Safety Council membership
  7. Access to NETS online members-only Forum to exchange best practices, share information, and get advice and answers to your fleet safety questions
  8. Exclusive access to the NETS Membership network to connect with colleagues from other member companies from all sectors
  9. Unlimited employee membership accounts: NETS membership is by company rather than individual


Not a NETS Member? Join today and take advantage of these benefits to keep your drivers safe and reduce your fleet safety program costs!

NETS SPONSORS

NETS is proud to partner with the following PLATINUM Fleet Safety Sponsors:

volvocars.com/us/l/fleet/

Learn about all of NETS Fleet Safety Sponsors
LATEST ROAD SAFETY NEWS

Are Rural States More Distracted?

Why is distracted driving different across states? Legislation and safety strategies are big factors. Another factor is how rural or urban a state is.

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NHTSA: 50 Years of Vehicle Safety Standards Saved Hundreds of Thousands of Lives, Prevented Millions of Injuries

Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards have saved lives and prevented injuries and property damage over the last 50 years, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration announced today. The agency released new research that measured the safety benefits and societal costs of FMVSSs between the implementation of the first FMVSS in 1968 and 2019.

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Holiday Season Poses Risks for Teen Drivers; Foundation Offers Tips for Safer Driving

The National Road Safety Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to promoting safe driving, emphasized that the holiday season is often the most dangerous time to be on the roads.

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WORKPLACE / HOME ROAD SAFETY

Improve Your Fleet's Safety Culture in 2025



With the new year approaching, now is a good time to review your new driver safety training as well as the ongoing safety training you do for your drivers.

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How To Get Drivers On-Board With Dash Cameras

With injury accidents and nuclear verdicts on the rise, not implementing a proactive fleet safety system has become too large of a risk. Yet, some fleets are concerned that their drivers will quit if they do.

 

In this guide, we’ll explain how you can implement dash cams effectively without increasing driver turnover in 14 steps.

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Recognizing mental health in the workplace

Drivers with mental health problems are in effect distracted drivers. Not having a clear focus on driving can have an adverse effect on judgement, concentration and reactions which can increase the chances of having an accident.

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'Unfavorable working conditions' pave the way to trucker MSDs: study

More than 3 out of 5 truck drivers have a musculoskeletal disorder - largely as a result of work-related risk factors - results of a recent research review show.

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New Study Finds Significant Number of Serious Crashes Involve Drugs and Alcohol

Data from an ongoing study on local roadway injuries shows a high prevalence of drugs or alcohol in crashes. Each year, many people look forward to ringing in the new year with family and friends. Experts encourage partiers to be careful: the number of car crashes involving drugs and alcohol may be higher than you think.

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Texas Roads Are The Most Dangerous for Motorcyclists, According to Latest Study

Texas is the most dangerous state for motorcyclists, according to highway crash data. There were 12.1 crashes for every 10,000 motorcyclists in the Lone Star State, according to 2022 crash data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration that was compiled in a recent study Texas' rate is almost twice the national average of 6.2 crashes per 10,000 motorcyclists.

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TECHNOLOGY AND INNOVATION

Major Automaker Recalls 7K+ Electric Vehicles Posing Safety Threat

This malfunction could increase the risk of a pedestrian injury as those on-foot may not hear the vehicle approaching.

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Teeming with Robotaxis, Crossing the Street Can Be Harrowing

Our tech columnist captured multiple video of Waymo self-driving cars failing to stop for him at a crosswalk. How does an AI learn how to break the law?

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GOVERNMENT AND NON-PROFIT
AGENCY NEWS

Vehicle Visibility Breakdown: How Direct Vision Impacts Fleet Safety

Over the last year, a prototyping and experimentation team at the Massachusetts Department of Transportation called The Lab @ MassDOT has been digging into truck safety, focusing on direct vision and vehicle retrofits as part of the implementation of state law. The study, which examined 60 vehicles, found that downsizing generally improves visibility, with heavy-duty vehicles having the worst visibility. Chief Possibility Officer at MassDOT, Kris Carter, who helps run The Lab @ MassDOT, broke down recommendations on fleet visibility, downsizing, and retrofitting with safety devices. 

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Vehicle Height Compounds Dangers of Speed For Pedestrians


The faster a vehicle is moving when it strikes a pedestrian, the more likely it is to inflict serious injuries. Exactly how much more likely depends in part on the height of the vehicle, with taller vehicles compounding the risk from higher crash speeds, new research from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety shows.


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NHTSA Announces Mandatory Rear Seat Belt Alarms In All New U.S. Cars by 2027

Starting September 2027, NHTSA will require all new cars and trucks sold in the U.S. to be equipped with rear seat belt alarms.

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INTERNATIONAL ROAD SAFETY

The Rise of Plug-in Hybrids in Asia: A Careful Transition to Electric

As the global automotive industry accelerates toward electrification, Asia presents a nuanced narrative. While fully electric vehicles (EVs) dominate global discourse, plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) are gaining significant traction across Asian markets.

Read More

Arrive Alive Continues to Encourage Safe Driving

As we approach the New Year, Arrive Alive keeps us in check about staying safe on the roads of South Africa.

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UK Drivers Who Drive to Work Face New Daily Parking 'Tax'

Thousands of drivers face a new daily parking tax starting this week. A major UK city council has announced that it could introduce a new charge for employees who drive to work in a bid to encourage more transport via public services -like buses, trams, cycling and trains - north of the border.

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Ghana to Enforce Motorcycle Helmet Standards by Next Year

Ghana is in the process of implementing laws on standards for crash helmets, hopefully by the end of next year. The move will go a long way in checking sub-standard crash helmets on the market. 

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Prioritizing Road Safety in Botswana

To improve road safety and reduce the risk of road traffic injuries and deaths, Botswana is implementing a range of measures from widespread public education program to enforcing stricter traffic laws that have begun paying off.

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UPCOMING TRANSPORTATION SAFETY EVENTS
AND CAMPAIGNS

2025 Lifesavers Conference on Roadway Safety

Register now for the 2025 Lifesavers Conference on Roadway Safety, to be held March 9-11, 2025 at the Long Beach Convention Center in Long Beach, CA.

Read More
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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