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March 2026
Summaries of timely road safety news, events, and alerts
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NETS Welcomes Leah Scully as New Board Liaison from NHTSA
NETS is pleased to welcome Leah Scully to the NETS Board of Directors. Leah is a highway safety specialist with the U.S. Department of Transportation, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), in the Office of Impaired Driving and Occupant Protection. She is based in Washington, D.C. and focuses on preventing traffic fatalities and injuries on U.S. roadways, with specific emphasis on seat belt use, distracted driving, drowsy driving and child passenger safety. Leah received her Master of Public Health (MPH) from George Mason University and has been a Child Passenger Safety Technician since 2018.
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Held adjacent to the
NSC Congress & Expo!
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SAVE THE DATE!
NETS Strength IN Numbers® Fleet Safety Conference
September 15-17, 2026
Hyatt Regency
Indianapolis, Indiana
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Call for Presentations Extended Through April 3!
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Planning is underway for the 2026 NETS Strength IN Numbers® Fleet Safety Conference, and we are accepting presentation proposals through the end of this week.
NETS seeks timely, relevant sessions that support employers in advancing road safety through practical strategies, emerging research, and innovative approaches.
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We invite fleet safety leaders, practitioners, researchers, and subject-matter experts to share insights, case studies, and solutions related to fleet and road safety.
Topics may include:
• Driver behavior and engagement
• Technology, telematics, and AI in fleet safety
• Crash reduction and serious injury prevention
• Data, benchmarking, and measurable outcomes
• Safety culture and leadership
• Risk, compliance, and liability
• Global and emerging road safety challenges
Selected presenters will receive a complimentary full conference registration.
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Proposal due date extended to April 3, 2026
Notifications sent by May 1, 2026
| | Sponsor Presentation Opportunities | | |
Organizations interested in presenting as part of a sponsorship package should not use the general submission link above.
To explore sponsor presentation opportunities, benefits, and available packages, please review the 2026 Sponsor Prospectus.
| | NETS is proud to partner with the following PLATINUM Fleet Safety Sponsors: | |
National Safety Council Projects 12% Decrease in U.S. Traffic Fatalities in 2025 | The National Safety Council estimates that 37,810 people died in U.S. motor vehicle crashes in 2025, a 12% decrease from 2024 despite a slight increase in miles driven. The decline signals progress, though risky behaviors like speeding, impaired driving, and distraction remain major contributors to fatalities. | | | | WORKPLACE / HOME ROAD SAFETY | |
UTA Research Aims to Make Driving Safer for Neurodivergent Teens | Researchers at the University of Texas at Arlington are developing a driving simulator program to help neurodivergent teens, such as those with ADHD or autism, practice real-world road scenarios and improve safety skills often missed in traditional driver education. | | | |
Microsleep While Driving: Obesity Among Risk Factors for Accidents, Says Expert | Obesity is a contributing risk factor in driving accidents because it is linked to sleep disorders such as sleep apnea, which can increase the likelihood of microsleep while driving. Microsleep, or brief unintended lapses into sleep, is a significant cause of crashes, particularly during long or fatiguing drives. | | | | TECHNOLOGY AND INNOVATION | |
Why Those Who Own Vehicle Data Will Decide the Automotive Industry's Future | Control of vehicle data will determine which companies lead the automotive industry, as data from connected cars enables new revenue streams, services, and customer relationships beyond traditional vehicle sales. Organizations that control and effectively use this data, not just those that manufacture vehicles, will shape future business models, partnerships, and competitive advantage. | | | | GOVERNMENT AND NON-PROFIT NEWS | |
The IIHS Will Give Safety Ratings to Commercial Vehicles Now. Here's Why That Matters | The IIHS is expanding its trusted crash-safety ratings to commercial vehicles like vans and heavy-duty pickups, aiming to address a major safety gap in a sector where many basic protections and technologies are still optional. | | | |
USDOT Announces More Than $21 Million in Tribal Road Safety Grants | The U.S. Department of Transportation is awarding over $21 million to fund 84 road safety projects benefiting 61 tribes across 13 states, aiming to reduce fatalities and serious injuries on tribal lands. The grants will support safety planning, infrastructure improvements, and better crash data analysis—especially targeting roadway departure crashes, a leading cause of deaths in these areas. | | | | INTERNATIONAL ROAD SAFETY | |
WHO Reports 1.19 Million Annual Road Traffic Deaths - Half Are Vulnerable Road Users | About 1.19 million people die each year in road traffic crashes worldwide, with more than half of those deaths involving vulnerable road users such as pedestrians, cyclists, and motorcyclists. The burden is disproportionately high in low- and middle-income countries, which account for the vast majority of fatalities despite having fewer vehicles. | | | |
UPCOMING TRANSPORTATION SAFETY EVENTS
AND CAMPAIGNS
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Apr 1-30: National Distracted Driving Awareness Month
April is National Distracted Driving Awareness Month. Visit NHTSA's Traffic Safety Marketing for resources that can be used to encourage drivers to focus on the road, and not drive distracted.
trafficsafetymarketing.gov
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Apr. 19-21: Lifesavers Conference on Roadway Safety, Baltimore, MD
Don’t miss this opportunity to network with highway safety professionals highlighting research-to-practice efforts across the country.
Lifesaversconference.org
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May 6-8: NSC Safety Summit, Baltimore, MD
The future of EHS, HOP Summit and NSC Spring Safety Conference all in on place.
NSC.org
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May 1-30: National Bicycle Safety Month
Communication is a key part of bicycle safety programs. Help spread awareness and educate employees about bicycle safety. Be sure your bicycle safety communication plan includes messaging on driver behavior and the importance of bicyclists wearing a helmet.
trafficsafetymarketing.gov
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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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© 2026 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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