Tagged with 'nhtsa'

NETS Releases Benchmark Study on Fleets and Mobile Devices



 

A group out of Washington, DC, called NETS (The Network of Employers for Traffic Safety), was established in 1989 and is dedicated to improving the safety of employees, their families, and members of the communities in which they live and work by preventing traffic crashes that occur on and off the job.

 

NETS recently released a 2012 fleet safety study. This study revealed that the safest automobile fleets check phone and text records after accidents and maintain written policies restricting the use of mobile devices. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, auto accidents remain the number one cause of workplace death and injury, costing employers in excess of $60 billion annually.

 

STRENGTH IN NUMBERS is the name of this fleet safety benchmarking study and it's the largest examination of fleet vehicle safety ever conducted by the organization. According to the study involving a collective fleet of 521,000 vehicles and 9.8 billion miles traveled:

■Nearly 50 percent of participating companies were in the Fortune 500

■Tracking completions of on-going driver training on a fleet safety scorecard

■Conducting commentary drives (ride-alongs) with new-hires and high-risk drivers

■Communicating fleet safety messages via senior-management presentations at meetings

 

NETS’ annual STRENGTH IN NUMBERS fleet safety benchmark study includes the collection of miles driven and collisions by type of vehicle and by country. Injury data are collected for the USA and the UK and respondents also are surveyed on more than twenty-five fleet safety program elements.

The STRENGTH IN NUMBERS fleet safety benchmarking study:

  • Brings together companies to collaborate and compare findings

  • All types of companies - large or small, U.S. or global, public or private

  • Participants collect standardized data over a 12-month period, analyze and compares in terms of crash frequencies taking into consideration road safety policies, driver training programs and crash review practices


 

This study is then used to improve a company's individual fleet safety performance. For more information on the STRENGTH IN NUMBERS fleet benchmark program or to become a participant, visit the NETS website at www.trafficsafety.org

 

NETS members, representing the pharmaceutical, electric utilities, oil and gas, insurance, food and beverage and other industries, meet annually to discuss the benchmark results and other key road safety topics such as cell phone policies, training and post-crash review processes and the use of in-vehicle monitoring.

 

“Through this benchmarking process, we’re able to learn about  common elements among the leading companies and also have the opportunity to network and discuss specific challenges and share successes with other fleet safety professionals,” said Sandra Lee, Director of Worldwide Fleet Safety for Johnson & Johnson, and Chair of the NETS Board of Directors. “This is what makes the STRENGTH IN NUMBERS benchmarking study such an invaluable process.”

 

NETS is a 501(c)3 organization, a partnership between the U.S. Federal government and the private sector. Participating companies include Abbott, AmeriFleet Transportation, Chubb Group of Insurance Companies, The Coca-Cola Company, Johnson & Johnson, Liberty Mutual Insurance Group, Monsanto Company, Nationwide Mutual Insurance Group, Shell International Petroleum Company, B.V. and UPS, as well as federal liaisons from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH).

 

For more information on NETS, visit http://trafficsafety.org/ or contact jhanley@trafficsafety.org.

Safety Crackdown - Buzzed and Impaired Driving


Today, texting while driving is getting all of the attention on America's roadways. States are implementing laws and associations are trying to change the way we think about cell-phone use in general. But a major concern for the nation's drivers and road workers is still buzzed and impaired driving, and if you plan to hit the road this summer, know that enforcement officers ARE out there and they WILL find you.



Impaired driving continues to be one of the deadliest crimes in America. In 2008, there were 11,773 deaths due to alcohol - nearly 1/3 of all traffic fatalities in the US. These drivers all had blood alcohol levels of .08 or higher. This means there was an average of one alcohol-impaired-driving fatality every 45 minutes. Thankfully, that number is down from 13,041 in 2007 - but it's not enough.


The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has formed a national strategy to stop impaired driving and created programs across the United States that aid motorists in the reporting of impaired drivers to law enforcement. You will notice an increasing amount of officers patrolling with increased prosecution for offenders.


HiVis Supply would like to remind all drivers and road workers out there that safety is important to us all, because at the end of the day, especially during vacation, getting home to our loved ones is what's important. HiVis is dedicated to keeping road workers safe by providing hi-visibility products and gear that get people noticed and keep them safe. Have a great summer, and stay safe.

5 Sites for Roadway Worker Safety

Each year, statistics show that roadway fatalities for highway roadside workers continue even with standards and awareness programs. and the deaths of these highwaymen aren't always what you'd expect. In 2011, there's been at least one death in a hit and run, and yet another road worker was struck and killed by a trolley.


These fatalities took place in California, but they could have been anywhere. Here are 5 resources for finding information on tips and training for highway roadside workers and crews who want to return home alive.

1. The National Work Zone Safety Information Clearinghouse is dedicated to providing the transportation construction industry and the general public with comprehensive information to improve motorist, worker and pedestrian safety in roadway work zones. Here you'll find videos, social media sources, articles training and tips to keep roadside workers safe.

2. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration  was established by the Highway Safety Act of 1970 to carry out safety programs previously administered by the National Highway Safety Bureau. Specifically, the agency directs the highway safety and consumer programs established by the National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act of 1966, the Highway Safety Act of 1966, the 1972 Motor Vehicle Information and Cost Savings Act, and succeeding amendments to these laws. Dedicated to achieving the highest standards of excellence in motor vehicle and highway safety, NHTSA works daily to help prevent crashes and their attendant costs, both human and financial. The agency strives to exceed the expectations of its customers through its core values of Integrity, Service, and Leadership.
3. United States Department of Transportation: The mission of the Department is to serve the United States by ensuring a fast, safe, efficient, accessible and convenient transportation system that meets our vital national interests and enhances the quality of life of the American people, today and into the future.

Statutory Authority - The Department of Transportation was established by an act of Congress on October 15, 1966. The Department’s first official day of operation was April 1, 1967.


4. Federal Highway Administration: the FHWA's mission is to improve mobility on our Nation's highways through national leadership, innovation, and program delivery.


5. Distraction.Gov: Also a part of the U.S. Department of Transportation - heeding America’s call to end the dangerous practice of distracted driving on our nation’s roadways. Distracted driving is a serious, life-threatening practice and we will not rest until we stop it. We are leading the effort but you are the key to preventing distracted driving. The message is simple – Put it down! We will work across the spectrum with private and public entities as well as advocacy groups to tackle distracted driving, and, we will lead by example. We have taken first steps -- The President’s Executive Order has established a new way to approach driving – by putting your device down and paying attention to the task at hand.

Hi Vis Supply is dedicated to educating everyone on the dangers of roadside work, and keeping our hard-working men and women visible to the dangers around them, especially on our Nation's roadways. Visit our site for all of your HiVis needs.
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