Message from NETS' Executive Director,
Susan Hipp
I had a completely different topic planned out this month to talk about until something happened this week. My kids’ car was totaled.
Fortunately, no one was hurt. But as is the case with almost every collision, it was completely avoidable. A young woman ꟷ 19 or 20 years old ꟷ was on her way home at 11pm, driving down the very wide (picture 4 cars wide) 25 mph residential street. She dropped her cell phone, reached down to get it, and slammed into the back of our car, destroying the rear bumper, tire well, and entire left side of the car. Our car ended up in the grass. This was not a 25mph hit.
Why was her cell phone in her hand in the first place? Why didn’t she pull over and stop before she reached down to grab it? Why was she going so fast? What if that had been a pedestrian or cyclist she hit instead of our car?
I would guess this young woman is shaken by the crash. Maybe she’ll think twice now before grabbing her cell phone while driving.
But why does it take an event like this to change driving behavior? Why do we wait until something has happened to start driving safely?
We need to be PROACTIVE about driving safety, not REACTIVE. As an employer with fleet drivers, what are some ways you can do that?
- Make sure you have driving policies in place
- Provide continuous driver training to all drivers, not just upon hire for new drivers
- Invest in telematics and vehicle technology to monitor high-risk driving behavior and address issues immediately
- Ensure vehicles are equipped with safety features such as ABS, collision avoidance systems, and backup cameras
- Hold regular safety meetings or toolbox talks with drivers to discuss safety issues, share best practices, and address concerns
- Regularly review and update your fleet safety policies and practices and continuously seek opportunities to improve safety
- Foster a culture of open communication where drivers feel comfortable reporting safety concerns, but also hold drivers accountable for safety violations
While there is still time to register for the conference, there is no time to wait until an incident happens before addressing fleet safety issues. It’s time to be proactive.
Drive Safe!
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Susan Hipp
Executive Director, NETS
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50 West Washington Street
Indianapolis, IN
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NETS Members: $649
Non-NETS Members: $729
Government/Non-profit: $299
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NETS Room Block at the Conrad Hotel is closed. However, reservations are available in an overflow room block at the Embassy Suites Indianapolis which is across the street from the Conrad. |
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NETS is proud to partner with the following PLATINUM Fleet Safety Sponsors: |
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Smith System offerings include virtual and in-person training, behind-the-wheel exercises, and eLearning programs based on proven methodologies and expert instruction. Further, Smith System is a market leader in providing telematics, camera technology and driver monitoring. Today, Smith System and our family of brands continue to make significant contributions to the driving industry, helping individuals and organizations improve their driving skills, enhance safety, and reduce risks on and off the road. We train drivers from more than half of the Fortune 500 fleets and offer instruction in more than 22 languages and 100 countries worldwide. With a vast Health, Safety, and HR eLearning library, fleet management tools, and North America’s largest decal-based response center, we support companies with all of their driver and workplace safety needs.
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Volvo Cars is a multinational passenger car manufacturer based in Gothenburg, Sweden. The first Volvo car rolled off the Gothenburg production line in Sweden in 1927. Since then, Volvo Car Group has been a world-leader in safety technology and innovation. From the very outset Volvo Cars has been a brand for people who care about the world and the people around us. We have made it our mission to make life easier, better and safer for everyone.
Volvo is behind some of the most important inventions and innovations in the history of car safety, and we are continuously improving your safety. Among those innovations are the three-point seat belt (1959); rearward facing child seat (1972) and the booster cushion (1978); side impact protection system (1991) and the side air-bag (1994); the blind spot information system, BLIS (1994) and many more safety innovations.
Today, Volvo is one of the most well-known and respected car brands in the world with sales in more than 100 countries. Volvo’s goal is that no one should be seriously injured or killed in a new Volvo car. An important step in that direction is the introduction of LIDAR in our new fully electric flagship SUV, the Volvo EX90.
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CEI is North America’s largest provider of fully integrated fleet accident management, fleet safety and fleet risk management services.
As a top fleet management services company, CEI is committed to providing the most effective, efficient and user-friendly services for preventing fleet accidents and handling the results of those accidents that still occur. That means an on-going commitment to maintaining the highest-quality and experienced staff, continuing investment in the latest technology, and partnering with our customers to seek constant improvement in their fleet driver management.
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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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TECHNOLOGY AND INNOVATION |
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INTERNATIONAL ROAD SAFETY |
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UN and JCDecaux Launch Global Road Safety Campaign
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UPCOMING TRANSPORTATION SAFETY EVENTS
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National School Bus Safety Week is October 16-20, 2023
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Brake's Road Safety Week: November 19-25, 2023
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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
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© 2023 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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