“SHARE THE ROAD” Campaign Keeps Employees Safe Behind the Wheel
News Brief
October 6 , 2008
Vienna, VA – Drivers share the road with other road users of various ages, skill levels, personalities, habits and idiosyncrasies. Pedestrians, bicyclists, and motorcyclists share the roadway with vehicles of varying sizes also. Understanding the unique limitations and challenges for all road users will enable drivers to be more respectful and considerate of our roadway companions and instill positive attitudes towards those who use various modes of transport.
Sponsored annually by the Network of Employers for Traffic Safety (NETS), Drive Safely Work Week (DSWW), October 6-10, is a nationally observed campaign designed to help employers emphasize the importance of driving safely both on and off the job to reduce preventable crashes. This year’s campaign theme, Take the High Road Share the Road. It Belongs to Everyone, addresses the special needs and considerations of vulnerable roadway users: pedestrians, bicyclists, motorcyclists, truck drivers, senior and teen drivers.
Every day thousands of drivers make the decision to multi-task, speed, tailgate, run red lights and take their aggression out on other road users, putting themselves and others sharing the road at risk. These and other hazardous driving practices coupled with unsafe driver attitudes make the time employees spend in the car the most dangerous part of their day.
During the 2008 DSWW campaign, employers committed to “champion” road safety will promote the campaign’s message so their workforce will become more aware of the limitations and challenges that each road user faces whether they are traveling on four wheels or 16, two feet or two wheels. It’s everyone’s responsibility to take the high road and share the road safely.
During this special week thousands of organizations will demonstrate their ongoing commitment to protecting the health and well being of their most valuable assets—their employees and their families. One of the best ways to keep employees safe on the road is to educate them about safety and promote safe driving practices. Employees across the country will hear the share the road safety message each day of the campaign week with the DSWW materials available to employers at no cost via the NETS website at www.trafficsafety.org.
A significant new development in NETS' ability to promote road safety among its members year-round is coming in January 2009. NETS will introduce the STRENGTH IN NUMBERS Road Safety Benchmarking Program. NETS has brought together organizations willing to take a look at their own crash metrics, compare findings with other study participants and share what they've learned with their peers. This program is for all types of companies and organizations-large or small, local or global, public or private.
Benchmarking will show how a company compares in terms of crash, injury, and fatality frequencies, while taking into consideration Program Elements, such as road safety policies, driver training programs, use of in-vehicle electronics, crash review practices, cell phone usage, management leadership, the "greening" of fleets, and more. "Benchmarking has helped Monsanto Company improve its fleet safety metrics--crashes, injuries, fatalities and costs--by focusing its resources on specific vehicle safety issues needing our attention," according to Maureen Mazurek, Chair, NETS Board of Directors and Director, Global Initiatives, Monsanto Company.
Members will use what they learn to identify best practices and to put in place a cost effective, integrated, and comprehensive plan to improve their fleet-safety performance year after year. The STRENGTH IN NUMBERS Benchmarking program also includes many other valuable features, all designed with road safety and an employer’s bottom line in mind.
