Message from NETS' Executive Director, Joe McKillips
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On behalf of myself and the entire NETS Board of Directors, I want to thank those of you who were able to attend last month’s record-breaking 2017 NETS Strength IN Numbers® Fleet Safety Benchmark Conference in Charlottesville, VA. Since our last NETSWork edition,
conference presentations and photos
, both from the general session as well as the field trip to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, have been posted to our NETS' website. If you are already a NETS member, you will need to log in to your account to access the presentations; however, photos are available to everyone without logging in.
As we embark on what is sure to be a busy holiday season, we are pleased to feature some helpful articles within this month’s edition of NETSWork which address holiday travel issues. In addition, throughout several areas of the U.S. as well as across the world, winter driving challenges will soon be on the rise and we have highlighted a few of these issues and helpful preventative actions.
Lastly, in recent months, the rise in opioid related fatalities has been making routine headlines across the U.S. and is clearly a matter impacting many – regardless of whether one is behind-the-wheel or not. I encourage all of you to take action with your employers to help spread the word on this public health crisis by taking advantage of the myriad of resources provided within the recently launched National Safety Council (NSC) opioid awareness campaign materials as noted below.
Thanks for your continued efforts.
Safe Driving!
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National Safety Council: Drugs at Work, What Employers Need to Know
More than half (54%) of adults with an opioid or heroin use disorder
reported driving
while impaired (National Survey on Drug Use and Health). In 2015, for the first time,
drug use was more prevalent than alcohol use
among fatally injured drivers with known test results (2017 Governors Highway Safety Association
Drug-impaired Driving: A Guide for States
).
The following resources are now available for employers regarding substance use:
Employee use of prescription painkillers threatens employees' safety and your bottom line. Make Your Workplace Opioid Free.
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This Thanksgiving Weekend: Turkey and Snarled Traffic
Despite the onslaught of hurricanes, fires and tornadoes this year, Americans still have a lot to be thankful for this Thanksgiving Day -- and they're taking to their cars to do it. During the five-day Thanksgiving holiday from Wednesday to...
Read more
www.cbsnews.com
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Most Dangerous Places to Drive for Thanksgiving
Tens of millions of Americans will hit the road for Thanksgiving, but their journey to celebrate the holiday is riskier than you might think. According to three years of National Highway Traffic Safety Administration crash data analyzed by A...
Read more
abc13.com
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Does Uber Curb Drunk Driving Crashes?
The issue: In 2016, 37,461 people died in traffic crashes in the United States, and almost one-third of those deaths were the result of drunk driving, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. In fact, motor vehicle crashes ...
Read more
journalistsresource.org
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Which Drivers Are More Likely to Be Distracted?
A new study has found that young men, people who drive more often, and extraverted or neurotic people are more likely to be distracted while driving. The study, published in Frontiers in Psychology, also found that older women and those who felt...
Read more
psychcentral.com
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WORKPLACE/ HOME ROAD SAFETY
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Video Safety Tip: Driving in Snow
Some areas of the country - from Seattle, Wash., to Asheville, N.C. - recently experienced the first snow of the season. It's time again to remind drivers of the extra precautions necessary while driving in snow.
Read more
www.automotive-fleet.com
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Winter Driving Tips
Severe weather can be both frightening and dangerous for automobile travel. Motorists should know the safety rules for dealing with winter road emergencies. AAA reminds motorists to be cautious while driving in adverse weather.
Read more
exchange.aaa.com
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The Dangers of Driving While Distracted
Many experts say that drivers distracted by smartphones and other technology are a problem. Consumer Reports looks at proposed answers to driving while distracted.
Read more
www.consumerreports.org
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CDOT, Lyft and Marijuana Industry Group Partner
From November through April 2018, Colorado pot smokers will be offered discounted Lyft rides through a collaborative campaign called 320 Movement. This is a joint effort by the Colorado Department of Transportation, Lyft and the...
Read more
www.thedenverchannel.com
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Iowa Takes Aim at Tired Drivers by Raising Awareness
Whether it's working the night shift, caring for a newborn, studying all night for exams, or simply living in a 24/7 society, Americans are sleep-deprived - and that can be deadly on the nation's roads.
Read more
www.thegazette.com
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Truck Safety Technology Can Prevent 63,000 Crashes Yearly
AAA Foundation Study Reveals Benefits of Adding Safety Technology to Large Trucks. Equipping large trucks with advanced safety technologies has the potential to prevent up to 63,000 truck related crashes each...
Read more
newsroom.aaa.com
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FHWA: U.S. Roadway Traffic in 2017 Increases 1.4 Percent
The level of motor vehicle traffic on U.S. roads and streets grew 1.4 percent this year through August, the Federal Highway Administration said, as drivers accumulated 30.6 billion more vehicle miles than in the first eight months of 2016. That...
Read more
informedinfrastructure.com
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TECHNOLOGY AND INNOVATION
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Fully Driverless Waymo Vans Run on Phoenix Roads
Waymo - the subsidiary of Google parent Alphabet Inc. that was formerly the Google Self-Driving Car Project - said it will soon offer a driverless ride-hailing service and has already been testing fully self-driving minivans on public roads in...
Read more
news.transportation.org
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Tampa Offers First Demo of its Connected Vehicle
Tampa's goal to become a smart city was on display on Monday, as the Tampa Hillsborough Expressway Authority hosted the first public demonstration of a connected vehicle technology research project that will launch into pilot testing in 2018.
Read more
techcrunch.com
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Ford Invented a Trucker Cap That Fights Drowsy Driving
Drowsy driving is dangerous, especially for truckers, who carry way more momentum as they travel down the freeway. In order to alert truckers when it might be time for a quick break, Ford put a detection system inside a trucker cap.
Read more
www.cnet.com
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GOVERNMENT AND NON-PROFIT
AGENCY NEWS
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IIHS Launches Passenger-side Crash Test
A new crash test program from IIHS aims to ensure that manufacturers pay attention to the safety of front passengers as well as drivers. The test was developed after it became clear that some manufacturers were giving short shrift to the right...
Read more
www.iihs.org
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NETS Members Shell and Cargill Talk Cellphone Policies
As part of their efforts to increase worker safety, more employers are enacting policies that ban the use of electronic devices behind the wheel. What are some key elements of a cellphone policy?
Read more
www.safetyandhealthmagazine...
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Red Light Cameras Cut Crashes in Chicago
Red light cameras in Chicago have reduced injury crashes by 10 percent and angle injury crashes by 19 percent, a recent analysis of one of the biggest automated enforcement programs in the country shows. Researchers from Northwestern University...
Read more
www.iihs.org
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Federal Regulator Not Doing Enough Re: Unsafe Operators
A sleep-deprived driver operating a motorcoach during early morning hours on a California highway caused a crash that killed four of the 24 passengers, the National Transportation Safety Board said in a report...
Read more
www.ntsb.gov
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New Website Dedicated to Reducing Drowsy Driving
Drowsy driving is serious and deadly. Approximately 6,000 deaths annually can be attributed to falling asleep at the wheel. Faculty from Stony Brook University’s School of Health Technology and Management have developed an educational...
Read more
www.newswise.com
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Progress “Toward Zero Deaths”
In 1997, Sweden implemented “Vision Zero” as a national transportation policy, with the goal that “no one shall be killed or seriously injured as a consequence of crashes in road traffic”. This comparative analysis of state traffic safety counter...
Read more
www.nhtsa.gov
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INTERNATIONAL ROAD SAFETY
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RoadSafe: UK National Road Safety Week 2017
National Road Safety Week aims to inspire thousands of schools, organisations and communities to take action on road safety and promote life-saving messages during the Week and beyond. It also provides a focal point for professionals working in...
Read more
www.roadsafe.com
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UN News: Road Safety Morally, Economically Sound Investment
Calling for greater efforts to reduce road traffic deaths worldwide, the United Nations envoy for road safety on Monday stressed that a proposed UN fund, along with national investments, would turn the tide of rising fatality numbers.
Read more
www.un.org
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Ten Percent Global Road Deaths Happen in India
Indian roads were more fatal in 2016 as the number of deaths in road accidents rose over 3% to 1.51 lakh compared to the previous year, an official report said on Wednesday. However, the total road accidents declined 4.1% to 4.81 lakh that...
Read more
www.thehindu.com
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UPCOMING TRANSPORTATION SAFETY EVENTS
AND CAMPAIGNS
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Thanksgiving Weekend Buckle Up Campaign:
6:00 p.m. Wednesday, November 25 to 5:59 a.m. Monday, November 30
For awareness materials from NHTSA’s Traffic Safety Marketing, go to:
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When the chilly temperatures of winter set in, will your vehicle be ready for the cold?
If you live in a part of the country that experiences inclement weather, such as heavy rain, snow and ice, are you prepared to drive in those conditions? Planning and preventative maintenance are important year-round ... but especially when it comes to winter driving ...
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Holiday Season- Drive Sober Campaign
Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over - They Will See You Before You See Them
The holidays are known for being merry and bright, but they’re also known for being the deadliest season when it comes to drunk driving. Every holiday season, lives are lost due to drunk drivers.
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For awareness materials from NHTSA’s Traffic Safety Marketing, go to:
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Save the Date:
Lifesavers National Conference on Highway Safety Priorities
San Antonio, TX
April 22-24, 2018
For more information, go to:
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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 on or about the 15th of each month by the Network of Employers for Traffic Safety, Susan Gillies, editor, and Joe McKillips, Executive Director.
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Network of Employers for Traffic Safety
344 Maple Ave. West #357
Vienna, VA 22180
703-755-5350
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© 2017 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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