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February 2025
Summaries of timely road safety news, events, and alerts
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Message from NETS' Executive Director,
Susan Hipp
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It's often said that the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again while expecting different results.
I recently attended the 4th Global Ministerial Road Safety Conference in Morocco. While the conference underscored the essential commitments from nations aiming to improve road safety in alignment with the Decade of Action for Road Safety 2021-2030 goals, it also illuminated a crucial shift towards embracing private sector involvement in global road safety initiatives.
In addition, a prominent theme that emerged was the power of collaboration, emphasizing that countries must partner with private sector organizations and NGOs to achieve the ambitious target of preventing at least 50% of road traffic fatalities and injuries by 2030. To realize this vision, we must focus on strategies that yield tangible results, rather than repeating methods that have proven ineffective. This is not just common sense; it is a call to action for all of us.
If you're reading this, you have a vested interest in road safety and ensuring that everyone comes home safely at the end of the day. So, I invite you to reflect—what successful initiatives are you implementing in your own realm? Which initiatives have not garnered results? How do you ensure your employees, your family members, and those who live and work in your communities come home safely each day? And how do you provide that knowledge to others who in turn could do the same?
Your insights could be the key to fostering a collaborative spirit that drives meaningful progress in road safety.
Drive safely!
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Susan Hipp
Executive Director, NETS
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NETS 2025 Strength IN Numbers®
Fleet Safety Benchmark Conference
October 6-9, 2025
Minneapolis, MN
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Marquette Hotel
Curio Collection by Hilton
710 S. Marquette
Minneapolis, MN 55402
Registration & Hotel Reservations Coming Soon
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Mark Your Calendar Now!
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT SEMINARS,
NETWORKING EVENTS,
KEYNOTE SPEAKERS,
...and much more!
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NETS is proud to partner with the following PLATINUM Fleet Safety Sponsors: | |
Automakers Make Big Strides in Front Crash Prevention | Automakers have made significant advancements in front crash prevention, particularly through the enhancement of Automatic Emergency Braking (AEB) systems. These improvements have led to a notable reduction in front-end collisions, contributing to overall road safety. Twenty-two of the latest 30 vehicles evaluated earned a good or acceptable rating, which requires systems to prevent or substantially mitigate crashes at higher speeds. In April 2024, only three out of the first 10 small SUVs tested performed to that level. | | | |
WORKPLACE / HOME ROAD SAFETY
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Driver Wellbeing Takes Centre Stage in Fleet Safety Srategies | UK fleets are prioritising driver mental wellbeing as part of their safety strategies, with 82% reporting formal processes to support drivers after incidents. | | | |
Study Suggests Car Safety Tech has "Worrisome Blind Spot" | An Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) study has found that high-visibility clothing and reflective strips may make pedestrians and cyclists invisible to automated crash prevention systems. Automatic emergency braking (AEB) systems, which are fitted to all new cars, activate the brakes when a potential collision is detected and the driver fails to respond quickly enough. | | | |
Nearly All Fleet Owners to Boost Safety Spending | |
Some 99% of executives surveyed across the U.S., Canada, Mexico and four Western European nations plan to boost spending on workforce safety and security technologies.
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The Risks of Inconsistently Applied Fleet Safety Programs | Inconsistent fleet safety programs expose companies to significant legal, financial, and reputational risks. Protecting all drivers with universal safety measures reduces liability, boosts employee morale, and ensures better outcomes for both businesses and communities. | | | |
Surveys Find Driver Stress Directly Impacts Road Safety | Driver stress significantly impacts road safety, leading to increased accident risks. A study published in Accident Analysis & Prevention found that fatigue-related road accidents are three times more likely to result in severe injury or death. To address this, the private sector is developing technologies to monitor and mitigate driver stress. | | | |
TECHNOLOGY AND INNOVATION
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Road Safety Boost from AI Sensors that Track Near Misses | Artificial intelligence (AI) sensors are being utilized to detect near-miss incidents between drivers and pedestrians, enhancing road safety. These AI technologies monitor and analyze traffic interactions, identifying potential hazards that may not result in immediate collisions but pose significant risks. By tracking near-miss events, authorities can gain valuable insights into dangerous areas and behaviors, enabling proactive measures to prevent accidents and improve overall traffic safety. | | | |
Workforce Trends Study Highlights How Younger Workers View Fleet Safety Technology | A new report by Samsara shows how technology is reshaping industries, attracting younger workers, improving safety, and driving efficiency as workforce demographics shift. | | | |
Fuel for Thought: A More Practical Future for Autonomous Vehicles | The hype about fully autonomous cars dominating our streets has faded. Instead, the future of autonomous vehicles will be defined by incremental progress. | | | |
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GOVERNMENT AND NON-PROFIT
AGENCY NEWS
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FIA Foundation addresses 'Challenge 2030' at Morocco Global Ministerial Conference on Road Safety | At the 2025 Global Ministerial Conference on Road Safety in Morocco, the FIA Foundation emphasized the importance of investment, collaboration, and scaling up successful road safety initiatives to meet the "Challenge 2030" goal of halving global road deaths. The event also showcased reports on financing, child health, and the role of private sector organizations in enhancing road safety. | | | |
OSHA Joins NSC Road to Zero Coalition | OSHA has joined the National Safety Council's Road to Zero Coalition - an initiative aimed at reducing and preventing motor vehicle-related incidents by fostering a culture of safety and promoting preventive practices that protect workers on the nation's roads. | | | |
INTERNATIONAL ROAD SAFETY
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The European Road Safety Charter Publishes Guide on Effective Road Safety Awareness Campaigns | The European Road Safety Charter has published an insightful guide on how to run effective road safety awareness campaigns, highlighting their role in improving road safety, including in urban areas. Alongside other measures like legislation, enforcement, and education, these campaigns are essential tools for promoting long-term behavioural change. | | | |
What's on the Horizon for Australia's Road Safety? | Australia is focusing on enhancing road safety by implementing new strategies aimed at reducing traffic-related fatalities and injuries. In 2025, there is an emphasis on using data-driven approaches to improve road infrastructure, as well as incorporating advanced technology such as AI and autonomous vehicles. Authorities are exploring better regulation of road safety initiatives while prioritizing the integration of safer designs and behavior changes, aiming to reach a long-term goal of reducing road trauma. | | | |
New Approach to Mapping Bicycle Travel and Road Safety: A Collaboration Between Dokdata and iRAP | Dokdata and iRAP have partnered to develop a new approach for mapping bicycle travel and assessing road safety. Using open data and the Don Quixote model, the collaboration helps cities optimize cycling infrastructure and improve safety by predicting travel patterns and identifying high-risk areas. | | | |
Google Launches AI-powered Tool to Help Reduce Stop-and-go Traffic and Emissions in Chile | Santiago ranks 126th in global traffic congestion, with commuters spending over 23 minutes at traffic lights on a typical 10-kilometer trip, according to the TomTom Traffic Index 2024. This stop-and-go traffic significantly contributes to urban CO2 emissions, with transportation responsible for 15% of global greenhouse gas emissions. Google's Green Light project optimizes traffic signals using AI, reducing stops by up to 30% and CO2 emissions. | | | |
UPCOMING TRANSPORTATION SAFETY EVENTS
AND CAMPAIGNS
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March 9-11 Lifesavers Conference on Roadway Safety | Lifesavers is the largest gathering of highway safety professionals in the United States. Don't miss this opportunity to network in an exchange of ideas, strategies, and programs to reduce preventable injuries and deaths. | | | |
March 3-9 Vehicle Safety Recalls Week | Millions of vehicles are recalled annually, making it crucial to include recall information in road safety plans. Materials are available to help owners check for recalls and emphasize the importance of regular vehicle safety checks. | | | |
March 10-17 St. Patrick's Day Impaired Driving Campaign | |
Themed material for St. Patrick's Day encourages people to not get behind the wheel after drinking and to plan for a safe, sober ride home.
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April is Distracted Driving Awareness Month | |
Thousands of people are killed and hundreds of thousands more are seriously injured in distracted driving crashes each year. During Distracted Driving Awareness Month, get free NSC resources to limit these risks and help us create safer roads for all. For campaign materials, visit https://www.nsc.org/road/distracted-driving-awareness-month | |
April 28-30 NAFA Institute & Expo | The NAFA Institute & Expo is the premier professional development and networking event that brings together fleet professionals from across North America in every segment including corporate, government, public safety, utility, education, and more. | | | |
April 22-25 NSC Spring Safety Conference & Expo | New this year, the 2025 NSC Spring Safety Conference & Expo (SSCE) is partnering with the NSC Networks Human and Organizational Performance (HOP) Summit. The HOP Summit is an event for safety and health professionals, workers, and leaders at all stages of their human and organizational performance journey. | | | |
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/.
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Note from the editor:
All links to stories have been tested and are active 24 hours prior to distribution; however, links may become inactive over time at the discretion of the publication source.
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About NETSWork®
NETSWork is published electronically each month by the Network of Employers for Traffic Safety.
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Network of Employers for Traffic Safety
344 Maple Ave. West #357
Vienna, VA 22180
+1.703-755-5350
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© 2025 Network of Employers for Traffic Safety
NETS is registered by the US Internal Revenue Service as a 501(C)3 non-profit organization
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