Message from NETS' Executive Director,
Susan Hipp
We made it past the holiday season and are now in full swing in this new year. How are you holding up, are you full of energy and excitement looking forward to what this year can bring? Are you following new resolutions to a healthier you? Or are you exhausted already and can’t make it through your afternoon without an energy drink and a carb-loaded pick-me-up?
If you answered the latter, you’re not alone. Many of us often find ourselves tired and worn out, relying on our coffee to get us through the afternoon slump.
But what happens when we need to drive home from the office with our mind worn out and the need for a nap? For 50 years now we have heard “Don’t Drink and Drive” and marketing campaigns have taught us about the dangers of drunk driving (although we still have a ways to go in preventing drunk driving crashes.) But how often do we hear “Don’t Drive Drowsy?” Until recently, there wasn’t much focus on fatigued driving. However, according to the National Sleep Foundation, “Research shows that sleep deprivation leads to mental impairment that is similar to drunkenness with 24 hours of sleep deprivation roughly equating to a blood alcohol content (BAC) of 0.10%.”
Sabrina Birch was 17 years old when she died. She was a passenger in a vehicle that veered off the road in Oklahoma and overturned when the 17-year-old driver fell asleep at the wheel.
Carrie Howl, a 33-year-old mother, was on her way to Splash Mountain with her two children and their 11-year-old cousin when a 20-year-old driver crossed the centerline and collided head on with her vehicle, killing her instantly. The driver, who had fallen asleep at the wheel, only had minor injuries.
Cindy Braddock and Jake Day left behind their three children, ages 5, 2 and 1, when Jake fell asleep while driving in the middle of the night and crashed into a field in the Wheatbelt region of Western Australia in the early hours of Christmas Day. Their children survived in the flipped wreckage for two days in scorching heat before being found by a relative.
These are only 3 of the many, many stories of drowsy-driving crashes. The risk is just as great as driving while impaired.
If you’re not already, I encourage you to focus on fatigued driving and share information with your employees and their family members about the dangers of drowsy driving as well as prevention methods.
NETS has just launched Managing Fatigue for the Fleet Safety Professional, a Guide for safety professionals responsible for managing light, medium or heavy vehicle fleets who seek to: 1) understand how fatigue impacts the safety of workers who drive as part of their job, and 2) reduce the risk of crashes and injuries resulting from fatigued driving among their drivers. Download the Guide for free today and share the Fact Sheets, social media, and other resources.
The term “Don’t Drive Drowsy” needs to become just as mainstream as “Don’t Drive Drunk.”
Safe Driving!
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Susan Hipp
Executive Director, NETS
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SAVE THE DATE!
NETS Annual Strength IN Numbers®
Fleet Safety Benchmark Conference
Indianapolis, Indiana
October 11-12, 2023
Registration & more information coming soon!
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Mark your calendar! Join your peers at the only
conference focused exclusively on employer road safety.
NETS Annual STRENGTH IN NUMBERS® Benchmark Conference convenes each year to bring together Global, Corporate, Government, and Non-profit employers. Conference participants include NETS member companies from diverse industries, representing a collective global fleet of more than half-a-million vehicles that travel nearly 11 billion miles annually.
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SAVE THE DATE!
NETS 2023 Europe Middle East Africa (EMEA) Regional Conference
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Paris, France
September, 2023
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(exact dates to be determined)
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Finalized dates and registration coming soon! |
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NETS NEW FATIGUE
MANAGEMENT GUIDE
IS NOW AVAILABLE!
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Driver fatigue is a major contributor to global vehicle crashes, injuries and deaths. Fatigue-related crashes are fully preventable when we understand the effects and impacts of fatigue on the safety of our fleet drivers and take actions to mitigate this driver risk.
FREE to access! Includes useful printable Fact
Sheets and images for Social Media messaging.
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NETS is proud to partner with the following PLATINUM Fleet Safety Sponsors: |
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SOBRsafe’s mission is to save lives and create safer work environments.
The annual cost of alcohol abuse in the U.S. is $249 billion. Nearly half of all industrial accidents with injuries are alcohol-related, and 1-in-10 U.S. commercial drivers test positive for alcohol (the highest rate worldwide).
In response, SOBRsafe has developed an instantaneous and hygienic alcohol screening technology that integrates seamlessly with driver check-in/out processes. The employee simply places two fingers on the device, and within ten seconds, their identity is verified and the alcohol test complete. All scans are reported in real-time to a secure cloud-based portal, and supervisors are immediately notified via SMS and email if alcohol has been detected.
This comprehensive, uniform testing is allowing SOBRsafe customers to enhance their safety, reduce insurance premiums by up to 25%, and create a culture of prevention.
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Mobile device distractions put employees in danger and companies at risk. So why would anyone settle for safety measures that simply report what went wrong, or only work when people remember to turn them on? TRUCE Software automatically suspends distracting mobile apps and functions depending on what your employee is doing, where they are working or even the workgroup they are part of. You define the policy and TRUCE ensures compliance when and where it’s needed. Supporting more than 100,000 subscribers and some of the largest brands worldwide, our patented technology is making workplaces everywhere safer.
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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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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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Lytx is the global leader in fleet management technologies. Our solutions harness the power of video to empower drivers and fleets to be safer and more efficient, productive, and profitable so they can thrive in today’s competitive environment. Through the Lytx platform, direct and reseller clients access our customizable services and programs spanning driver safety, risk detection, fleet tracking, compliance, preventative maintenance, and fuel management. Using the world’s largest driving database of its kind, along with proprietary machine vision and artificial intelligence technology, we help protect and connect thousands of fleets and 1.6 million drivers in more than 60 countries worldwide. For more information on Lytx video telematics systems, visit www.lytx.com, @lytx on Twitter, LinkedIn, our Facebook page or our YouTube channel.
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US Official Warns of Risks Posed by Heavy Electric Vehicles
Jennifer Homendy, the head of the National Transportation Safety Board expressed concern Wednesday about the safety risks that heavy electric vehicles pose if they collide with lighter vehicles.
Read more
apnews.com
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NTSB: Alcohol and Cannabis Detection in Impaired Drivers
Actions from federal and state agencies are needed to address the continuing problem of impaired driving, including from alcohol, cannabis and multiple drug use. In the Board-approved safety research report, the agency examined the crash risk...
Read more
www.ntsb.gov
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WORKPLACE / HOME ROAD SAFETY
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Speeding: Top Causes, Tough Consequences |
In 2020 alone, some 11,258 people lost their lives on our nation’s roadways due to speeding, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Many of us have heard this scary statistic before. So why do people continue to speed? There are three primary reasons why drivers speed: Speeding is a habit; the driver is rushed; or the driver is distracted. No matter the reason, speeding is clearly dangerous and should always be avoided.
automotive-fleet.com
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Staged Accidents are “Big Business"
Automobile accidents are a daily occurrence on our nation's roads and highways, costing the U.S. property-casualty insurance industry billions of dollars in paid accident claims each year. The consequences are even greater, however, for you as an ...
Read more
www.nicb.org
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Quashing Six Arguments Against 'Speed Limiting' Technology
Europe is on the brink of putting "Intelligent Speed Assist" technology on all new cars to slow drivers down to local limits - and even some U.S. states are hoping to follow suit. But the minute "speed governors" get mentioned, tempers flare, and ...
Read more
usa.streetsblog.org
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Supply Chains Slow Speed of Car Repairs
It wasn't my fault. I had a green light. I was proceeding through the McCain Boulevard intersection at a leisurely pace. I had almost made it. Crunch. A distracted driver meandered through a stoplight into the passenger side quarter panel of my...
Read more
www.arkansasonline.com
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TECHNOLOGY AND INNOVATION |
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Why NYC’s Car Safety Pilot Is a Big Deal
A new program that will test speed-limiting devices on city vehicles could pave the way for wider adoption of a lifesaving technology.
bloomberg.com
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Electrifying Transportation Reduces Emissions & Saves Energy
With high energy prices and increasing urgency to reduce fossil fuel burning, it makes sense to get the most out of every gallon of gasoline or kilowatt-hour of electricity. A previous post showed that charging an EV costs around the equivalent...
Read more
yaleclimateconnections.org
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Frito-Lay Facility with Zero- and Near Zero-Emission Tech
Frito-Lay, a leading food manufacturer and division of PepsiCo, has completed a new facility in Modesto, California that claims to be a first-of-its-kind showcase for sustainable manufacturing, warehousing, and distribution technologies.
Read more
worldbiomarketinsights.com
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GOVERNMENT AND NON-PROFIT
AGENCY NEWS
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2022 Projections: Roadway Fatalities Beginning to Level Off
NHTSA has released its latest projections for traffic fatalities in 2022, estimating that 31,785 people died in traffic crashes in the first nine months of the year. This is a 0.2% decrease as compared to the same time in 2021.
Read more
www.nhtsa.gov
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Model Year 2023 Vehicles Included in 5-Star Safety Ratings
NHTSA announced its list of model year 2023 vehicles for crash testing as part of the agency's 5-Star Safety Ratings system under its New Car Assessment Program. These vehicles represent approximately 86% of the new vehicle fleet...
Read more
www.nhtsa.gov
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U.S. Traffic Deaths Remain Unacceptably High
A reduction in roadway fatalities is welcome, but the 0.2% decline announced by NHTSA follows an unprecedented two-year surge in roadway deaths and dangerous driving. We cannot afford to inch our way to zero traffic deaths.
Read more
www.ghsa.org
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INTERNATIONAL ROAD SAFETY |
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Registration: Global Alliance of NGOs for Road Safety
March 6-10, 2023 | El Salvador with Virtual Option - The Eighth Global Meeting of Nongovernmental Organizations Advocating for Road Safety and Road Victims will be held. It will be a hybrid event, enabling wider participation.
Read more
www.roadsafetyngos.org
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New Taxation System for Ireland’s Company Car Drivers
Ireland's new benefit-in-kind tax system is based on the original market value (OMV), the number of kilometers driven, and the CO2 emissions of the vehicle.
globalfleetmanagement.com
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Australian Fringe Benefit Tax Exemption for EVs
With the new Fringe Benefit Tax (FBT) exemption, you can lease your next Electric Vehicle and enjoy huge tax savings. In this article, we explain what FBT is, how you can benefit from the changes in legislation and how much you can save.
Read more
www.flarehr.com
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UPCOMING TRANSPORTATION SAFETY EVENTS
AND CAMPAIGNS
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Super Bowl | Traffic Safety Marketing
February 12, 2023 - To help keep us all safe on the roads, NHTSA is teaming up with State and local traffic safety advocates to remind football enthusiasts that: Fans Don’t Let Fans Drive Drunk.
Read more
www.trafficsafetymarketing.gov
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Registration: Lifesavers National Conference
April 2-4, 2023 | Seattle, WA - The 2023 Lifesavers Conference will provide a national platform with over 80 workshops in ten tracks, plenary sessions, and an extensive exhibit hall.
Read more
lifesaversconference.org
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Registration: NAFA Institute & Expo
April 17-19, 2023 | Baltimore, MD - Join thousands of fleet professionals from across North America in every segment including corporate, government, public safety, utility, education, and more. Registration open now.
Read more
www.nafainstitute.org
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Registration: NSC Spring Safety Conference & Expo
May 17-19, 2023 | Indianapolis, IN - You can connect with other safety professionals, explore new products and services from over 100 exhibiting companies and learn from leading industry experts.
Read more
ssce.nsc.org
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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
344 Maple Ave. West #357
Vienna, VA 22180
+1.703-755-5350
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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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