|
May 2026
Summaries of timely road safety news, events, and alerts
| | Message from NETS' CSO, Art Kinsman | | | | |
NETS on the Global Road Safety Stage: Our Strength Is in Our Numbers, Partners and Members
Over the past several weeks, NETS participated in two important road safety forums: the Interactive Multi-Stakeholder Hearing as part of the preparatory process for the upcoming UN High-Level Meeting on Improving Global Road Safety, and the 2026 U.S. Safe System Academy.
A clear theme emerged from both conversations: achieving meaningful reductions in roadway deaths and serious injuries will require more than government action alone. Employers and fleets play a critical role in turning road safety principles into everyday operational practices through driver training, vehicle selection, fatigue management, contractor standards, safety culture, and performance measurement.
| | | |
At the UN hearing, NETS emphasized that employers and fleets should be viewed as practical implementation partners in the global road safety effort. This perspective aligns closely with NETS’ mission and with the work our members carry out every day inside their organizations.
These discussions also reinforced the importance of the NETS Strength IN Numbers® Benchmark Survey. Our ability to lead, advocate, and demonstrate the impact of employer-led road safety depends on the strength of our shared data.
The 2026 Benchmark Survey is now open, and we strongly encourage all member organizations to participate if they have not already.
NETS remains the preeminent fleet safety organization because of the expertise, commitment, and leadership of our members and partners. Let’s continue to show our Strength in Numbers®.
Please Connect! Art on LinkedIn NETS on LinkedIn
Art Kinsman
Chief Strategy Officer
akinsman@trafficsafety.org
https://trafficsafety.org
| | Call for Fleet Safety Award Nominations Open! | |
Recognizing Susan Hipp’s Legacy of Collaborative Leadership
NETS is honored to introduce the new Susan Hipp Road Safety Collaborative Leadership Award, created in recognition of Susan’s longstanding commitment to bringing people together to advance road safety through partnership, shared purpose, and meaningful collaboration. Throughout her career, Susan exemplified the idea that the most lasting progress in road safety happens when organizations, disciplines, and individuals work together toward a common goal. This award celebrates that spirit by recognizing individuals, teams, or organizations that have demonstrated exceptional collaboration in creating safer roads and stronger safety outcomes.
The award is open to both NETS members and non-members and will be presented at the 2026 NETS Strength IN Numbers® Fleet Safety Benchmark Conference Awards Dinner in Indianapolis.
NETS is also accepting nominations for its member-exclusive Road Safety Achievement Awards, recognizing excellence in fleet and road safety programs and initiatives.
Nominations for all awards are open through August 1, 2026.
| | NETS Benchmark Open for Data Submission Through May 31 | | |
Whether your fleet safety program is new, developing, or mature, participating in the benchmark provides valuable insight into policies, performance metrics, and best practices from employers across industries. To make participation easier NETS has streamlined the process with fewer survey questions, flexible submission options, and additional support from the NETS team.
Need help getting started? Orientation recordings and 1:1 support are available upon request. Questions? Contact Ashlee Cordell-Loverdi at acordell@trafficsafety.org.
| | |
NETS Strength IN Numbers®
Fleet Safety Conference | Sept. 15-17
Registration Now Open!
| | |
Held adjacent to the NSC Safety Congress & Expo!
Hyatt Regency | Indianapolis, IN
| | Special Early Bird Rates in Effect Through June 30 | | (Sponsor registration coming in June) | | |
NETS will host its 2026 Strength IN Numbers® Fleet Safety Benchmark Conference September 15–17 in Indianapolis. The conference is scheduled the same week and adjacent to the National Safety Council (NSC) Safety Congress & Expo, creating a convenient opportunity to engage with both employer-focused fleet safety peers and the broader safety community in a single trip.
At the same time, the NETS conference will retain the focused, intimate setting our attendees rely on, complemented by expanded access to the broader NSC community, with additional registration options available.
As the longest-running conference dedicated entirely to fleet safety, NETS offers a uniquely immersive experience where fleet safety is not just a track, but the focus of every session, discussion, and connection. Paired with NSC’s national emphasis on roadway and workplace safety, the week offers a strong mix of strategy, data, innovation, and actionable ideas. Registration is now open. We're looking forward to seeing you there!
| | |
The NETS conference will have it's own dedicated exhibit space
To explore sponsor opportunities, benefits, and available packages, please review the 2026 Sponsor Prospectus.
| | NETS is proud to partner with the following PLATINUM Fleet Safety Sponsors: | |
GM-UMTRI Study Confirms Advanced Safety Technologies Reduce Crashes and Injuries | A new GM and University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute (UMTRI) study found that advanced driver-assistance technologies significantly reduced certain crash types and injuries in real-world driving, including an 86% reduction in backing crashes and a 57% reduction in rear-end injury crashes with automatic emergency braking. | | | | WORKPLACE / HOME ROAD SAFETY | |
Employers Urged to Tackle 'Grey Fleet' Risks as RoSPA Publishes New Road Safety Guidance | RoSPA is urging employers to better manage “grey fleet” risks—employees using their own vehicles for work—warning that these drivers are often overlooked despite representing a major road safety and liability exposure for organizations. The new guidance encourages employers to implement clearer policies, vehicle checks, driver training, and risk management practices to improve safety and legal compliance. | | | | TECHNOLOGY AND INNOVATION | |
Telematics, AI, and the Future of Fleet Risk: How Tech Is Reshaping Fleet Risk Management | Rising litigation, increasingly aggressive plaintiff tactics, and growing “nuclear verdicts” are continuing to drive up liability exposure for employers and fleet operators. As legal and financial risks escalate, organizations are placing greater emphasis on proactive risk management, strong safety cultures, and thorough documentation practices. | | | | GOVERNMENT AND NON-PROFIT NEWS | |
New IIHS Study Criticizes Speeding and Aggressive Driving Advertising | A new study from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety found that U.S. vehicle advertising increasingly emphasizes speed, power, and aggressive driving, while very few ads focus on safety. Researchers warned that these ads may normalize risky driving behaviors and contribute to America’s broader speeding culture, particularly as SUV ads have become more performance-oriented over time. | | | As States Consider New Legislation, Guide Shares Steps to Advance High-Tech Solution to America's Deadly Speeding Epidemic | The Governors Highway Safety Association released a new guide encouraging states to advance Intelligent Speed Assistance (ISA) technology as a tool to combat speeding, noting that ISA could help prevent up to 22,000 fatal crashes annually. The guidance comes as more states consider legislation and policy approaches to address the nation’s persistent speeding problem through vehicle-based technology solutions. | | | | INTERNATIONAL ROAD SAFETY | |
Why Some Carmakers Are Intentionally Settling For Lower Safety Scores | Some automakers are intentionally accepting lower Euro NCAP safety ratings on certain lower-cost vehicles in order to keep prices competitive and avoid adding expensive advanced safety technologies as standard equipment. The trend reflects growing tension between affordability, consumer demand, and increasingly rigorous vehicle safety expectations. | | | |
UPCOMING TRANSPORTATION SAFETY EVENTS
AND CAMPAIGNS
| |
100 Safest Days of Summer | Summer Driving Safety Practices | The 100 Days between Memorial Day and Labor Day are the deadliest on the roads for teen drivers and passengers. The 100 Safest Days of Summer program aims to change that dynamic and give drivers and passengers the resources to learn about summer driving safety practices. | | | |
National Secure Your Load Day is June 6
"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? Driving with an unsecured load is both against the law and extremely dangerous.
nhtsa.gov
| |
May 1 - September 30: Vehicular Heatstroke Prevention
Nearly every state in the United States has been affected by a pediatric vehicular heatstroke death. Use this campaign material to help educate parents and caregivers about the dangers of hot cars, including children getting trapped in an unlocked vehicle, being forgotten or mistakenly left, or purposely left. Material also includes safety information for bystanders to safely remove a child from a hot car.
trafficsafetymarketing.gov
| |
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:
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.
| | |
About NETSWork®
NETSWork is published electronically each month by the Network of Employers for Traffic Safety.
| | |
© 2026 Network of Employers for Traffic Safety
NETS is registered by the US Internal Revenue Service as a 501(C)3 non-profit organization
| | | | |
