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June 2026
Summaries of timely road safety news, events, and alerts
| | Message from NETS' CSO, Art Kinsman | | |
Fleet Safety Beyond Our Front Doors: Two Ways to Take Action
Fleet safety does not stop at our organization’s front door. Every vehicle we put on the road becomes part of a larger system, and the choices we make about drivers, vehicles, technology, speed, fatigue, and safety culture affect everyone who shares that road.
That is the heart of the Safe System Approach: roadway deaths and serious injuries are unacceptable, people will make mistakes, and responsibility for preventing tragedy is shared. For employers, that responsibility is significant. We manage fleets, influence thousands of drivers, purchase vehicles, set expectations, and turn safety principles into daily practice.
This fall, NETS members have two important opportunities to act on that responsibility.
First, join us for the 2026 NETS Strength IN Numbers® Fleet Safety Benchmark Conference, September 15–17 in Indianapolis. The conference brings together experienced fleet safety professionals who understand the real-world pressures behind the policies. They share what worked, what did not, and what they learned along the way. Many represent companies that compete in the marketplace, yet they come together with remarkable openness because safety is not a competitive secret. A lesson from one fleet can prevent a crash in another. That is the Safe System at work.
Second, help us recognize the people and programs already making a difference by submitting a nomination for the 2026 NETS Road Safety Achievement Awards. Nominations may honor an individual, team, or company initiative in categories including Overall Road Safety Achievement, Small Fleet, International Fleet, and Women in Fleet. The deadline is August 1, and recipients will be honored at the Road Safety Awards Dinner on September 15.
Attend to learn. Nominate to recognize. Come prepared to share.
Together, we can turn shared responsibility into shared progress and make our fleets, workplaces, and roads safer for everyone.
| | | Call for Fleet Safety Award Nominations Open! | |
Help us recognize the individuals and organizations making a lasting impact on road safety by submitting a nomination for the 2026 NETS Road Safety Achievement Awards.
Recognizing Susan Hipp’s Legacy of Collaborative Leadership
NETS is honored to introduce the 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 demonstrated that lasting progress in road safety happens when organizations, disciplines, and individuals work together toward a common goal. This award honors that legacy by recognizing an individual, team, or organization that has 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 during the Road Safety Awards Dinner on September 15 in Indianapolis.
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NETS Strength IN Numbers®
Fleet Safety Conference | Sept. 15-17
Registration Now Open!
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Held adjacent to the NSC Safety Congress & Expo!
Hyatt Regency | Indianapolis, IN
| | June 30 is the Last Day For Early Bird Rates | | (Sponsor registration coming July 6) | | |
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. Register Today. We're looking forward to seeing you there!
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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: | |
Nearly 4,000 People Died in Parking Lot and Other 'Non-Traffic' Crashes in 2021 | Nearly 4,000 people were killed in crashes occurring in parking lots, driveways, and other non-traffic locations in 2021, highlighting a significant but often overlooked safety issue. Because these incidents occur off public roads, they are generally excluded from standard traffic safety statistics, potentially masking the true scope of the problem. | | | | WORKPLACE / HOME ROAD SAFETY | |
Intelligent Speed Assistance Benefits for Commercial Fleets | Commercial fleets implementing Intelligent Speed Assistance (ISA) are reporting significant safety and operational benefits, including fewer speeding violations, reduced crash rates, improved safety scores, and lower operating costs. Fleet leaders say the technology not only helps prevent collisions but also delivers indirect benefits such as reduced insurance risk, fewer maintenance costs, and improved compliance. | | | | TECHNOLOGY AND INNOVATION | |
Your Saliva Carries a Chemical Fingerprint of a Sleepless Night | Researchers have identified a unique set of saliva biomarkers that can detect acute sleep deprivation with about 94% accuracy, potentially paving the way for a rapid, noninvasive test to identify dangerously fatigued drivers and workers. While still in the research phase, the technology could one day provide an objective measure of sleep loss similar to a breathalyzer for alcohol. | | | | GOVERNMENT AND NON-PROFIT NEWS | |
IIHS Launches Evaluations of Commercial Vehicles, Starting With Driver Protection | The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety has launched its first safety evaluations for commercial vehicles, beginning with cargo vans and heavy-duty pickups, to encourage manufacturers to equip them with proven driver-protection features such as airbags, advanced seat belts, and effective seat belt reminders. The new program aims to close a long-standing safety gap, as many commercial vehicles are not subject to the same federal safety requirements as passenger vehicles. | | | | INTERNATIONAL ROAD SAFETY | |
Global Experts Strengthen Vehicle Safety Regulations, Apply New Road Safety Technologies | More than 100 experts from around the world convened to advance stronger vehicle safety regulations and accelerate the adoption of emerging technologies that can reduce road deaths, particularly in low- and middle-income countries where most traffic fatalities occur. The workshop emphasized harmonizing global safety standards and expanding access to proven vehicle safety technologies to better protect all road users. | | | |
UPCOMING TRANSPORTATION SAFETY EVENTS
AND CAMPAIGNS
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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. | | | |
May 1 - Sept. 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
| | Aug 29 - Sept. 2: GHSA Annual Meeting - Minneapolis, MN | | Register by July 10 to save! Join safety, technology, law enforcement and government leaders from across the country at the GHSA 2026 Annual Meeting: From Data to Action- Harnessing the Technology Revolution- Aug. 29 – Sept. 2 in Minneapolis. https://www.ghsameeting.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/.
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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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© 2026 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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