Employers Have Important Role in Reducing Traffic Fatalities and Injuries
NETS’ Drive Safely Work Week™ 2016 Kicks off Today
VIENNA, Va.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–#DSWW2016–The Network of Employers for Traffic Safety (NETS) today kicked off its
2016 Drive
Safely Work Week™ campaign, celebrating the 20th
anniversary of the annual safe-driving initiative targeted to employers.
More than 2500 organizations representing approximately 13 million
employees are set to take part in the week that promotes safe-driving
education and awareness to all employees—company drivers and commuters
alike. The campaign comes on the heels of the announcement
by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration that traffic
fatalities in 2015 increased 7.2% over the previous year, the greatest
percentage increase in 50 years.
Motor vehicle-related incidents remain the leading cause of workplace
fatalities in the United States and are responsible for 1.6
million lost work days per year, with 90% attributed to traffic
crashes that occur off the job.
“Employers have the opportunity to play an important role in reversing
the recent increase in traffic fatalities,” said Joseph McKillips,
Executive Director of NETS. “Driving is likely the riskiest thing any
employee does on a daily basis. Taking the time to remind all
drivers that they are the most important safety feature in their vehicle
is good for the health and safety of employees, it’s good business sense
and it’s the right thing to do. The Drive Safely Work Week campaign
gives employers off all sizes the opportunity to do just that.”
This year’s campaign is themed “Drowsy, Distracted or Focused—Your
Decisions Drive Your Safety.” It calls on drivers to take a hard
look at what they do behind the wheel, or before getting behind the
wheel, that could be increasing their risk of a crash, starting with the
significance of being well-rested. The issues of drowsy driving,
distracted driving, speeding and the importance of wearing a seat belt
on every trip are emphasized. NETS makes available a free toolkit that
includes an interactive driver-risk assessment, graphics, social media
posts, PowerPoint presentations and more that may be downloaded at: www.trafficsafety.org.
Campaign materials are not dated so organizations can use them at any
time throughout the year.
About NETS
NETS
is a 501(c) 3 employer-led organization, a partnership between the U.S.
federal government and the private sector. NETS’ mission is to reduce
road-related collisions, injuries, deaths and costs. Established in
1989, NETS’ programs and services are dedicated to improving the safety
of employees, their families, and members of the communities where they
live and work by preventing traffic crashes that occur on-and-off the
job. Board member companies include Abbott, AmeriFleet Transportation,
Chubb Group of Insurance Companies, The Coca-Cola Company, Hess
Corporation, Johnson & Johnson, Liberty Mutual Insurance Group, Monsanto
Company, Nationwide Mutual Insurance Group, Shell International
Petroleum Company B.V. and UPS. In addition, the National Highway
Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the National Institute for
Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) serve as federal liaisons to the
NETS board of directors.
Contacts
Network of Employers for Traffic Safety (NETS)
Lynda
Morrissey, 248-756-0947
lmorrissey@trafficsafety.org
