The Network of Employers for Traffic Safety (NETS) is taking a stand against distracted drivers by presenting "Drive Safely Work Week." For seven days in October, NETS presents tips for businesses on how to keep their employees safe on the road -- information that is valuable all year long.
The organization’s annual Drive Safely Work Week campaign, supported by NAFA, takes place October 4-8 with the theme "Focus... Safe Driving Is Serious Business." The campaign materials offer tips on how to prepare an organization for the launch of a new cell phone policy or reinforce an existing policy and how to build awareness on the issues related to distracted driving while developing strategies to minimize the danger.
As part of NETS campaign, a tool kit featuring facts on distracted driving, interactive quizzes and tools, daily activities and communication messages, and downloadable posters for the office is available. For a limited time, these tool kits are free of charge.
A comprehensive study by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) in 2000 titled "The Economic Burden of Traffic Crashes on Employer..." found employer health care (medical) spending for motor vehicle crashes was $7.7 billion and another $8.6 billion was spent on sick leave and life and disability insurance for crash victims. Developing a proactive traffic safety program is one of the best ways to control costs from workplace vehicle crashes.
Safe driving is essential to the fleet managers who belong to NAFA, a group that collectively manages several million vehicles traveling on North American roads each day. NAFA has lent its support to the annual campaign for the past several years through a series of articles in the Association’s print and online publications, press releases, and email blasts to the membership.
NETS, which has sponsored Drive Safely Work Week since 1996, is dedicated to improving the health and safety of employees, their families, and the community by preventing traffic crashes that occur both on- and off-the-job.