Message from NETS' Executive Director,
Susan Gillies
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Anyone with younger children has likely seen the movie Up. There are several scenes where one of the talking dogs is mid-sentence and suddenly whips his head around while proclaiming "Squirrel!" On more occasions than I can count, I've opened the back door to let my dog out only to have him proceed at the speed of light to catch that squirrel across the yard, momentarily forgetting the reason he went out in the first place. Other than a cat, what greater distraction is there for a dog?
For us humans, our cell phones or other electronic devices are the equivalent of squirrels. How many times have you been mid-sentence with someone when a text alert dings on your phone and your eyes are drawn to it? What about when you're in the middle of a Zoom meeting and your email icon lights up—aren't you tempted to go read that email right this second? We just can't seem to help it.
But what happens when we're driving and that text or email alert comes in? How long is too long to let our eyes wander from the road in front of us to check that screen? According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), "Sending or reading a text takes your eyes off the road for 5 seconds and at 55 mph, that's like driving the length of an entire football field with your eyes closed."
The World Health Organization states that "Telephone use while driving (whether hand-held or hands-free) increases the likelihood of being involved in a crash by a factor of four, while texting increases crash risk by around 23 percent."
And there are other distractions besides electronic device use: eating and drinking; adjusting navigation, climate, or infotainment systems; or reaching down to pick something up.
In the United States, April is Distracted Driving Awareness month, a time to raise awareness of the dangers of distracted driving and encourage drivers to reduce or eliminate distractions behind the wheel. NHTSA reports that 3,142 people were killed in the U.S. in 2020 in distracted driving crashes, and worldwide distracted driving fatality estimates are around 2.5 million.
This month, and any month, I encourage you to make use of the many distracted driving prevention resources available such as NETS Distracted Driving Module or the other resources shared below from the National Safety Council and NHTSA.
It's time to remind employees, family members, and even ourselves that distracted driving isn't worth it—that squirrel can wait until we're not driving!
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Susan Gillies
Executive Director, NETS
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Join leading global road safety experts to hear the latest in road safety technology, innovations, and best practices. Listen here!
- Exciting Topics
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Each month we will explore topics on advancing road safety and reducing risk on the world’s roadways.
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OPEN UNTIL APRIL 15!
NETS STRENGTH IN NUMBERS® 2022 BENCHMARK
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NETS annual Benchmark process has begun for all NETS Member Companies. The deadline for entering metrics and survey responses is April 15, 2022.
After a successful launch of our new Benchmark data collection system in Quickbase last year, we are excited to continue the use of this new and enhanced platform which affords even greater capabilities with our Benchmark processes. Highlights include collection and analysis of additional benchmark leading and lagging program indicators, as well as numerous user-friendly and back-office system efficiencies.
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NETS is proud to partner with the following PLATINUM Fleet Safety Sponsors:
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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.
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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.
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Distracted Driving Awareness Month
April is Distracted Driving Awareness Month and new NSC estimates show that our roads are the most dangerous they've been in years; on a typical day, eight people are killed and hundreds more are injured in distraction-affected crashes.
Read more
www.nsc.org
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Traffic Is Back to Pre-Pandemic Levels, Deaths Climb
The NSC released its preliminary estimates for motor vehicle fatalities in 2021, and for a second year in a row, the numbers are dark and deeply concerning. NSC data show more than 46,000 people died on U.S. roads in 2021, a 9% increase from 2020.
Read more
www.nsc.org
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WORKPLACE / HOME ROAD SAFETY
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States Use Road Sensors to Combat ‘Tire Carcasses’
A growing number of states are hoping to use sensors embedded in the pavement to fight climate change, keep traffic flowing and save lives. ...
Read more
www.pewtrusts.org
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With Fewer Drivers on the Road, Why the Spike in Fatalities?
As the pandemic swept across the country, it led to fewer drivers on the roads and a significant reduction in miles driven. But U.S. government data shows traffic fatalities surged, along with a rise in risky driving crashes involving impairment, ...
Read more
newsroom.aaa.com
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FMCSA Final Rule on Safety Tech Mounted in Trucks
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration is increasing the area safety technology may be mounted inside commercial motor vehicles and expanding the definition of "vehicle safety technology." According to a final rule ...
Read more
www.safetyandhealthmagazine...
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15 Vehicles Most Likely to Surpass 200,000 Miles
Americans drive a lot. Collectively, we put, on average, more than 13,000 miles on our cars each year according to the U.S. Department of Transportation. Because of this, a vehicle's ability to travel long distances without major problems is a...
Read more
www.autoblog.com
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TECHNOLOGY AND INNOVATION
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AI Traffic Lights Could Cut Commute Times
Researchers in Germany have found that traffic lights equipped with AI could help reduce the amount of time drivers spend at intersections.
Read more
www.extremetech.com
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5G Service is Coming to More Cars: What Drivers Can Expect
After years of innovation in the world of smartphones, PCs and tablets, there is a new tech gadget leader: the car. In fact, key chip companies that have powered those devices for years - including Nvidia, Qualcomm, and Intel's Mobileye division...
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Bridgestone Launches New Rigid Dump Truck Tire
"As demand continues to strengthen in the construction and quarry segments, we remain dedicated to helping maximize productivity for our customers by pairing intelligent products with best-in-class services 2 and integrated technology solutions," ...
Read more
www.prnewswire.com
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SUVs, Large Vehicles Often Hit Pedestrians While Turning
SUVs, pickups, vans and minivans are substantially more likely than cars to hit pedestrians when making turns, suggesting that these larger vehicles may not afford drivers as clear a view of people crossing the road, a new study from the IIHS shows.
Read more
www.iihs.org
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GOVERNMENT AND NON-PROFIT
AGENCY NEWS
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GHSA, GM Collaborate to Combat Distracted Driving
With Distracted Driving Awareness Month kicking off on April 1, GHSA and GM are proud to announce the development of an action-oriented, recommendation-rich report that will take a new look at distracted driving, with expected publication this summer. The goal of the report is to reduce this persistent yet preventable driving behavior and change the social norm so all road users get home safely.
www.ghsa.org
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NTSB Chair Calls on Safety Leaders to Fight for Safer Roads
National Transportation Safety Board Chair Jennifer Homendy challenged local advocates and safety leaders March 15, 2022 to "fight like hell" and use the “Safe System Approach" to reduce rising deaths and injuries on our nation's roads.
Read more
www.ntsb.gov
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NTSB Chair Escaped Smashed Car with Concussion and Questions
When Jennifer Homendy saw the Toyota RAV4 hurtling her way as she sat in Northern Virginia traffic, the chair of the NTSB had only a moment to prepare before experiencing the type of violent collision she has tried to reduce across the country.
Read more
www.washingtonpost.com
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INTERNATIONAL ROAD SAFETY
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Global Meeting Sets NGO Agenda for Road Safety 2021–2030
Road safety NGOs have set out a call to action for governments in their countries: commit to act for people's right to safe mobility and a 50% reduction in road deaths and injuries by 2030. The call to action, defined by members of the...
Read more
www.roadsafetyngos.org
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EU Road Deaths Up 5%
The European Commission has published figures for road deaths in the 27 EU Member States in 2021, showing that 19,800 people were killed in a road crash last year. This represents an increase of 5% compared to 2020 – the year of Covid-19 lockdowns...
Read more
etsc.eu
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Lack of Standard Safety Features on Vans Criticised
Lack of standard safety features on vans criticised ADAC, a German motoring organisation, has said it cannot recommend 18 out of 19 top selling vans due to a lack of safety features on their entry-level models. A recent series of tests by was...
Read more
etsc.eu
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Pakistan's Road Safety In Dire Straits
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The rapid expansion of motorisation over the years in Pakistan has seen a sharp rise in road traffic-related fatalities and injuries. According to a World Health Organisation report, road traffic injuries are the leading cause of death for young people...
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UPCOMING TRANSPORTATION SAFETY EVENTS
AND CAMPAIGNS
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April Is National Distracted Driving Awareness Month
Distracted drivers aren’t just a threat to themselves; they are a danger to everyone else on the road. The national distracted driving effort focuses on ways to change the behavior of drivers through legislation, enforcement, public awareness, and...
Read more
www.trafficsafetymarketing.gov
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NAFA Institute & Expo Is Next Month
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, ...
Read more
www.nafainstitute.org
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Heatstroke Prevention - Traffic Safety Marketing
May 1, 2022 is National Heatstroke Prevention Day 906 children have died due to vehicular heatstroke since 1998. Yet, all these deaths could have been prevented. Sadly, these are the statistics as of March 4, 2022...
Read more
www.trafficsafetymarketing.gov
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Save the Date!
2022 NSC Congress & Expo
For more than 100 years, safety, health and environmental professionals have turned to the world's largest annual safety event for industry-leading technology, education, networking opportunities and the tried and true products and services needed to stay at the forefront and remain competitive within the industry. Mark your calendars for September 16-22 in San Diego.
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Save the Date!
2022 AFLA Conference
Join AFLA for their 2022 Corporate Fleet Conference in Tucson, AZ. The conference will begin Monday, October 10, 2022 with networking opportunities that evening. All sessions will begin on Tuesday, October 11th with the conference concluding at 12pm on Thursday, October 13th. Mark your calendars now to join us for "Forward Together."
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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
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Vienna, VA 22180
+1.703-755-5350
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© 2022 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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