August 2026

Summaries of timely road safety news, events, and alerts

Message from NETS' CSO, Art Kinsman

NETS Strength IN Numbers® Conference: Where Fleet Safety Becomes Community, Connected by Purpose

A recent trip to the Hawaiian Islands reminded me of a word that captures what I value most about NETS: ʻohana. In Hawaiian culture, ʻohana means family, but it extends beyond blood relationships. It reflects people connected by belonging, mutual responsibility and a commitment to care for one another.

That feels especially appropriate as we prepare for the 2026 NETS Strength IN Numbers® Fleet Safety Benchmark Conference, September 15–17 in Indianapolis. What makes this conference special is its intimacy. It brings together people who live and breathe fleet safety in an environment where candid conversations happen naturally, experiences are shared openly and professional relationships often become lasting connections.

The agenda is built around that exchange. We will unveil the latest Strength IN Numbers® benchmark findings and explore what the numbers tell us about fleet safety performance and emerging trends. Sessions will feature practical case studies, research and new thinking on safety culture, driver behavior, mental health, technology, AI, telematics, safety data, and legal and operational risk; all with an emphasis on ideas attendees can take back and apply within their own organizations.

Our Tuesday sector meetings take that collaboration even deeper. Agriculture, Pharmaceutical, Insurance, Supply Chain/HGV and Utility fleets will have dedicated time to talk with peers who understand their operating environments. These smaller conversations create room for the questions that matter: What is working? What is not? Where are others struggling? What would you do differently? That willingness to compare notes, even among companies that compete, is one of the things that makes NETS unique.

Tuesday evening, the Road Safety Awards Dinner will shift the focus from programs and performance to people and legacy. Held in the spectacular Indiana Roof Ballroom, it will be an unforgettable setting for an evening celebrating achievement, legacy and lives saved.

Mike Lutzenkirchen will share the story of his son Philip and challenge us to consider the legacy created by our own choices and leadership. We will also remember NETS’ treasured leader Susan Hipp, recognize collaborative leadership through the award bearing her name, and celebrate Road Safety Achievement Award recipients whose work is helping build what comes next.

And just as important will be the conversations over meals, at receptions and between sessions—where a colleague becomes a resource, a connection becomes a friendship and a good idea travels from one fleet to another.

That is why I keep coming back to ʻohana. NETS is strongest because this community is willing to share, support and learn from one another. In Indianapolis, I hope we leave feeling not simply like conference attendees, but like a true road safety ʻohana united by one purpose: helping more people make it home safely.

Please Connect! Art on LinkedIn NETS on LinkedIn

Art Kinsman

Chief Strategy Officer

akinsman@trafficsafety.org

https://trafficsafety.org

NETS Strength IN Numbers^®

Fleet Safety Conference | Sept. 15-17

Held adjacent to the NSC Safety Congress & Expo!

Hyatt Regency | Indianapolis, IN

AGENDA

HOTEL RESERVATIONS*

*There may still be limited rooms available. Please contact Lmorrissey@trafficsafety.org

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. Register Today. We're looking forward to seeing you there!

THANK YOU TO OUR 2026 SPONSORS

NETS is proud to partner with the following PLATINUM Fleet Safety Sponsors:

Learn about all of NETS Fleet Safety Sponsors

NETS is proud to partner with the following SILVER Fleet Safety Sponsors:

NETS is proud to partner with the following BRONZE Fleet Safety Sponsors:

LATEST ROAD SAFETY NEWS

NETS Sets 2026 Fleet Safety Benchmark Conference for Indianapolis

The September 15-17 program will feature fleet benchmarking data, case studies, emerging technologies, and implementation strategies while running alongside the NSC Safety Congress & Expo.

Off-the-Job Crashes Account for 43% of Employers' $61.7 Billion Crash Burden

Off-the-job crashes involving employees and their dependents account for 87% of employers’ crash-related health and fringe-benefit costs, including billions in sick leave and health care expenses. Automotive Fleet explores what the latest NETS Cost of Crashes findings mean for fleet leaders and why the business case for road safety extends well beyond employees driving on the job.

WORKPLACE / HOME ROAD SAFETY

How Volkert Cut Fleet Risk Without Losing Driver Trust

Introducing cameras into a fleet can improve safety, but it can also create immediate concerns about trust and surveillance. See how (NETS member) Volkert approached the rollout across its 760-vehicle fleet and what the company did to gain driver buy-in while reducing risk.

Why Driver Risk Belongs on HR's Agenda

Driver risk isn’t just a fleet issue: workload, fatigue, scheduling pressures and workplace culture can all influence how safely employees drive. Bringing HR into the conversation can help organizations address these underlying risks before they contribute to crashes.

TECHNOLOGY AND INNOVATION

Virginia Tech-Developed Tools Help Make Virginia Roads Safer Through Smarter Crash Data

For more than a decade, researchers have transformed more than 1.8 million crash reports into near real-time data tools that help law enforcement and transportation agencies identify safety risks, make faster decisions, and improve road safety across Virginia.

GOVERNMENT AND NON-PROFIT NEWS

National Sleep Foundation Expands Drowsy Driving Programs to Enhance Sleep Health and Safety

The National Sleep Foundation is expanding its drowsy driving prevention efforts with year-round education, research and collaboration, along with an October forum featuring the release of new 2026 survey data. The initiative comes as nearly two-thirds of Americans report having driven while so tired they struggled to keep their eyes open, highlighting the continued need to address this preventable roadway risk.

INTERNATIONAL ROAD SAFETY

Road Deaths in the United States Have Fallen Much More Slowly Than in Other Wealthy Countries

While most high-income countries have dramatically reduced road deaths over the past several decades, the U.S. has made far less progress and has even lost ground since the mid-2010s. In 2023, the U.S. road death rate was more than four times Germany’s, despite the two countries having similar rates in 1980.

UPCOMING TRANSPORTATION SAFETY EVENTS

AND CAMPAIGNS

Aug. 19 - Sept. 7: Drive High, Get a DUI

If You Feel Different, You Drive Different. Drive High, Get a DUI is a national high-visibility enforcement campaign that focuses specifically on the consequences of drug-impaired driving while urging drivers to not get behind the wheel after using drugs. Material created for these campaigns highlights law enforcement’s goal of stopping drug-impaired drivers and spreading awareness.

trafficsafetymarketing.gov

Aug. 19 - Sept. 7: Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over

Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over is a national high-visibility enforcement campaign that focuses on the consequences of drunk driving and is supported by increased law enforcement. During the 2024 Labor Day holiday, there were 505 crash fatalities nationwide. Of those people, 170 (34%) were killed in crashes that involved at least one alcohol-impaired driver with a blood alcohol concentration of .08 or above.

trafficsafetymarketing.gov

Sept. 20-26: Child Passenger Safety Week

Keeping children safe while traveling is a top priority for parents and caregivers, and often parents seek out information regarding car seat safety. Material created for this campaign covers topics every step of the way — from purchasing the correct car seat according to a child’s weight and height, to properly installing it, and when to move them to the next type of seat.

trafficsafetymarketing.gov

October 20-22: Fleet Forward Conference | National Harbor, MD

Fleet Forward Conference (FFC) brings together the people and ideas redefining fleet. Built for those running public, private, and global fleets, Fleet Forward is where ideas around EV strategy, data, safety, and autonomy evolve into the next system, the next policy, the next best practice. NETS members save $200 on registration. Planning to attend? Send an email to lmorrissey@trafficsafety.org for the discount code.

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:

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About NETSWork®

NETSWork is published electronically each month by the Network of Employers for Traffic Safety.