|
February 2026
Summaries of timely road safety news, events, and alerts
| | |
NETS ANNOUNCEMENTS
Leadership & Governance
| | Liz Pulver to Serve as NETS Board Vice Chairperson for 2026-2027 | |
|
| |
“I’m honored to serve as Vice Chairperson and to support the collaboration NETS fosters in advancing employer-led road safety initiatives. Employers play a critical role in reducing roadway risk, and I look forward to continuing that work alongside the Board.”
~Liz Pulver, Senior Program Manager, Transportation Research, State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Companies, and NETS Board Vice Chairperson
| | | | |
Elizabeth (Liz) Pulver of State Farm has been installed as the 2026–2027 Vice Board Chairperson of the Network of Employers for Traffic Safety (NETS), bringing over two decades of transportation safety experience to strengthen leadership continuity and evidence-based road safety efforts.
Read More:Businesswire.com
| |
NETS Welcomes Dr. Jennifer Bell as New Board Liaison from NIOSH
NETS is pleased to welcome Dr. Jennifer Bell to the NETS Board of Directors. She is a research epidemiologist with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), in the Division of Safety Research. Jennifer's work focuses on preventing work-related traumatic injuries, with particular emphasis on occupational motor vehicle safety.
Learn more about Dr. Jennifer Bell: www.trafficsafety.org
| | | |
Held adjacent to the
NSC Congress & Expo!
| |
SAVE THE DATE!
NETS Strength IN Numbers® Fleet Safety Conference
September 14-17, 2026
Hyatt Regency
Indianapolis, Indiana
| |
Call for Presentations Now Open!
| |
|
Planning is underway for the 2026 NETS Strength IN Numbers® Fleet Safety Conference, and we are now accepting presentation proposals.
NETS seeks timely, relevant sessions that support employers in advancing road safety through practical strategies, emerging research, and innovative approaches.
| | |
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.
| | |
Proposals due: April 1, 2026
Notifications sent: 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: | |
A New Way to Study How Cannabis Use Impacts Safe Driving | As marijuana legalization expands across the U.S., it is outpacing research on the impact of cannabis use behind the wheel. Researchers at the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute recently spent two years collecting real-world driving data from cannabis users to help fill in the gaps. | | | | WORKPLACE / HOME ROAD SAFETY | |
Check Out These Proven Strategies for Building a Safer, More Skilled Commercial Fleet | Building a safer, more skilled commercial fleet starts with data-driven training, structured finishing programs for newer drivers, and incentive systems that reward safe driving behaviors. A focused approach to education, performance measurement, and recognition can help fleets reduce risk, manage insurance costs, and strengthen long-term driver retention. | | | | TECHNOLOGY AND INNOVATION | |
Carmakers Push Toward 'Eyes-Off' Driving, Raising Questions of Safety, Liability | Automakers are pushing toward “eyes-off” driving systems that would let drivers stop watching the road on certain highways, but this shift raises questions about safety and who would be legally responsible in a crash under such technology. | | | | GOVERNMENT AND NON-PROFIT NEWS | |
Mandatory Driver Impairment Sensors Clear a Funding Hurdle, But are they Ready? | A federal law meant to require cars to have technology that detects and prevents drunk or impaired driving has cleared a funding challenge but remains stalled because regulators and industry debate whether the technology is ready for widespread use; implementation timelines are still uncertain. | | | | INTERNATIONAL ROAD SAFETY | |
UN Launches Global Road Safety Campaign in India, Calls for an End to 'Silent Epidemic' of Road Accidents | The United Nations launched the #MakeASafetyStatement global road safety campaign in India, framing road crashes as a “silent pandemic” that kills tens of thousands annually and highlighting the need for widespread action to improve safety and reduce preventable deaths. | | | Revolutionizing Road Safety: AI's Impact on India's Traffic | India is leveraging AI to combat road accidents by utilizing vision-based systems that intervene in real-time to prevent collisions. This approach has led to significant reductions in accidents, drowsy driving, and distracted driving, proving AI's effectiveness in transforming chaotic roads into safe transport arenas. | | | |
UPCOMING TRANSPORTATION SAFETY EVENTS
AND CAMPAIGNS
| |
Mar. 3 (Virtual Pitch Day) & Mar. 6 (Application Deadline)
U.S. DOT Volpe Center – 1DOT Internship Program
The U.S. DOT Volpe Center is recruiting interns for full-time, hands-on experience this summer, with the potential to continue into the academic year. Opportunities are available across U.S. DOT operating administrations in Washington, D.C., and Cambridge, MA.
Register for Pitch Day here
View the full announcement and application details here. https://www.usajobs.gov/job/858434500
|
Mar. 2-8: Vehicle Safety Recalls Week
Millions of vehicles are recalled each year. So it’s essential to include vehicle safety recall information in any road safety communication plan. NHTSA's traffic safety marketing has materials that help inform vehicle owners about the process of checking for safety recalls and getting a recall repair, and educate drivers about the importance of regularly checking their car for recalls.
trafficsafetymarketing.gov
|
Mar. 9-17: St. Patrick's Day | Buzzed Driving is Drunk Driving
Join the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s (NHTSA) safety initiative to educate the public about the importance of sober driving. Themed material for St. Patrick's Day encourages people to not get behind the wheel after drinking and to plan for a safe, sober ride home.
trafficsafetymarketing.gov
| |
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
| |
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.
| | |
© 2025 Network of Employers for Traffic Safety
NETS is registered by the US Internal Revenue Service as a 501(C)3 non-profit organization
| | | | |
