Network of Employers for Traffic Safety NETS
A monthly publication
Summaries of timely road safety news, events, and alerts LATEST ROAD SAFETY NEWS
Traffic deaths increase in U.S.
Source: The Washington Post, December 20, 2012
Traffic fatalities on the nation's roads have spiked dramatically this year, ending six years of steady decline that had seemed to herald success after decades of effort to make vehicles and roadways less risky. The 7.1% increase in the first nine months of the year was the biggest jump during the January-through-September span since 1975, the year that federal officials began compiling traffic-death data. Federal officials pointed out that the year-to-year comparison was made against 2011, when highway deaths reached their lowest point in more than 60 years. Even with the increase this year, they said the total was 26% below the number killed during the first nine months of 2005. To see the full article, go to: www.washingtonpost.com/
New study finds digital billboards distract drivers
Source: Automotive Fleet, January 3, 2013
A new study found that digital billboards hold a driver's gaze for longer than other signs on the road. The study, which was conducted by the Swedish Transport Administration, found that digital signs often take a driver's eyes off the road for more than two seconds. The study's authors said the billboards are brighter, visible from further away, and show changing advertisements, thereby holding a driver's attention for longer. A similar 2006 study by Virginia Tech for the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) found that anything that takes a driver's eyes off the road for more than two seconds increases the risk of a crash. To see the full article, go to: www.automotive-fleet.com/
CDC study finds one in 24 drivers admits to falling asleep while driving
Source: Automotive Fleet, January 3, 2013
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) conducted a study of driving habits during 2009 and 2010 to find out how many people fall asleep while driving. Out of 147,076 respondents, 4.2% reported having fallen asleep while at the wheel during the previous 30 days. The potential for drowsy driving decreases with age, according to the CDC's findings, with 4.9% of adults ages 18 to 44 reporting having fallen asleep compared to 1.7% out of those 65 years or older. Respondents who were employed were more likely to report drowsy driving (at 5.1%). The CDC went on to say that drowsiness in general impairs driving skills, slowing reaction times and making drivers less attentive. Crashes related to sleep issues are more likely to happen at night or during mid-afternoon, and these crashes often involve a single vehicle going off the road. To see the full article, go to: www.automotive-fleet.com/
Group: Strong road-safety laws are lagging in states
Source: USA Today, January 15, 2013
Nearly a decade of declining road deaths has created complacency among state lawmakers, whose failure to enact stronger highway-safety laws leaves motorists at peril now that traffic fatalities are rising again. That's according to Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety, a non-profit group that grades the states annually on how well they are implementing a set of 15 laws governing everything from seat-belt use to drunken and distracted driving and teen driving safety. In 2010, state legislatures around the USA enacted 22 new traffic-safety laws. Last year, they passed just 10. None of the 18 states without primary seat-belt laws, which allow police to stop motorists who aren't buckled up instead of citing them only when they're pulled over for something else, enacted one. While no state has adopted all 15 laws recommended by Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety, 14 states were graded as "significantly advanced" toward adopting the laws. Six states were marked as falling "dangerously behind." To see the full article, go to: www.usatoday.com/
Mind wandering drives up crash rate
Source: HealthDay News, December 13, 2013
Drivers are often "zoned out" behind the wheel, and this mind wandering contributes to many car crashes, a new study finds. French researchers who reviewed data on nearly 1,000 collisions say half of all crashes may be caused by a driver's wandering thoughts and worries. This study, published online Dec. 13 in the journal BMJ, is part of an effort to understand dangerous driving distractions. The goal is to develop technologies that can alert drivers to hazards they may not pay attention to. External distractions, such as phoning or texting, are known to be linked with crashes. But inattention from distractions such as worries is not well understood. To see the full article, go to: http://health.usnews.com/
Motorists spend 18% of journey time not focusing on the road
Source: RoadTrafficTechnology.com (UK), December 20, 2012
Motorists take their eyes off the road for almost 18% of their time behind the wheel as they get distracted by clouds, scenery and advertisements, according to a new study on driver behavior. The research found that, on average, drivers take their eyes off the road every nine seconds. Using the latest eye-tracking technology, the study recorded drivers' eye movements in order to understand where and what they were looking at and how focused they were on roads. It was found that drivers using navigation devices are more distracted than others, with 22% of their time behind the wheel being spent focused away from the road. For at least 12% of the total travelling time, motorists completely concentrate on navigation screens. In contrast, an average driver spends 3.2% of their journey time on checking mirrors and just 2% looking at oncoming vehicles. To see the full article, go to: www.roadtraffic-technology.com/
New auto crash test dummies can better gauge safety
Source: Detroit Free Press, January 3, 2013
Engineers from General Motors, Ford, Chrysler and other companies have been working together for years to develop advanced crash-test dummies that can more accurately gauge vehicle safety. "We fight with our competitors fiercely in the marketplace, but when it comes to crash dummies, there's a lot more cooperation than people realize," said Jack Jensen, technical manager of GM's crash test lab. Developing new dummies is difficult because they must react to horrendous impacts in the same ways the human body would. But they must be durable enough to absorb scores or even hundreds of crashes. Progress has been slow, but their efforts are close to producing smarter dummies. To see the full article, including four developments in anthropomorphic test-device technology that could soon lead to changes in crash-test procedures, go to: www.freep.com/
Dangerous distraction: Study finds many texting pedestrians
Source: The SeattleTimes, December 12, 2012
Researchers observing pedestrians in Seattle found that nearly one in three people crossing the street at high-risk intersections was distracted by use of a mobile device. Only one in four followed the full safety routine of looking both ways, obeying the lights, and crossing at the appropriate point, the study found. Texters were four times less likely to look before crossing, obey lights or cross at the appropriate place. They also spent more time in the intersection, by nearly 2 seconds, on average. In 2010, there were 529 pedestrian-involved collisions in Seattle, with at least 252 involving some injury. Fifty were serious injuries and six were fatal. Washington and many other states have banned texting or talking on a handheld phone while driving, and some jurisdictions have tried to tackle mobile-device use by pedestrians by broadening jaywalking laws. To see the full article, go to: http://seattletimes.com/
New IIHS crash tests finds some family cars outperform luxury models
Source: Consumer Reports, December 20, 2012
Proving paying more doesn't automatically equate to safer, some midsized cars do better than luxury models in the new frontal offset crash test conducted by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). Of the 18 sedans tested in the latest group, two earned the top rating of Good, 11 were Acceptable, three Marginal, and two Poor. Over the summer, the Institute first evaluated midsized luxury sedans with its new small overlap test. Despite the prestige brand represented, only three out of 11 models earned Good or Acceptable ratings. The small overlap test was added to the organization's regimen in 2012 to drive further improvements in occupant protection. The test replicates a crash in which 25% of the driver side front corner of a car hits an immovable object, such as a tree or a pole. In the test, a vehicle strikes a 5-foot-tall rigid barrier going 40 mph. To see the full article, go to: http://news.consumerreports.org/
The geography of drunk driving
Source: The Atlantic Cities¸ December 31, 2012
The geographic distribution of alcohol-related crashes varies widely according to "A National Portrait of Drunk Driving," a map created by John Nelson at IDV Solutions. Using data from the Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), Nelson mapped ten full years of crashes (2001-2010) on a hexagonal mesh of the United States. Each hexagon represents data collected from a roughly identical space with no regard to administrative boundaries. Their color indicates the percentage of crashes that involved alcohol. Larger hexagons correspond to more accidents -- in the densest areas, the hexagons swell to form a flush surface, whereas in rural areas, the shapes are much smaller. The darker the hexagon, the higher the percentage of crashes involving alcohol. To see the full article, including the map, go to: www.theatlanticcities.com/
Whitehouse dragging feet on car tech known for saving kids
Source: AOL Autos, December 26, 2012
Judy Neiman, a mother from Washington state, is an advocate for backing cameras being mandated as standard equipment. As she tells her story, the sounds come back to her. Her SUV door slamming. The slight bump as she backed up in the bank parking lot. The emergency room doctor's sobs as he said her 9-year-old daughter Sydnee, who previously had survived four open heart surgeries, would not make it this time after being backed over by her Mother's SUV. There is, in fact, a law in place that calls for new manufacturing requirements to improve the visibility behind passenger vehicles to help prevent such fatal backing crashes, which the government estimates kill some 228 people every year - 110 of them children age 10 and under - and injures another 17,000. Congress passed the measure with strong bipartisan backing, and Republican President George W. Bush signed it in 2008. But almost five years later, the standards have yet to be mandated because of delays by the U.S. Department of Transportation, which faced a Feb. 28, 2011, deadline to issue the new guidelines for car manufacturers. In a letter to lawmakers in February, Secretary LaHood said his agency needed more time for "research and data analysis" to "ensure that the final rule is appropriate and the underlying analysis is robust." NHTSA has estimated that making rear cameras standard on every car would add $58 to $88 to the price of vehicles already equipped with dashboard display screens and $159 to $203 for those without them.
To see the full article, go to: http://autos.aol.com/
STATE and regional ROAD SAFETY INITIATIVES
Improving the winter driving skills of Michigan teens
Source: Michigan Radio, December 26, 2012
A website has launched just in time to help parents monitor and improve winter driving skills for teen drivers. The University of Michigan's Transportation Research Institute (UMTRI) created the site called SaferDrivingForTeens.org. This site encourages parents and teens to communicate with each other and clarify safe driving expectations and the consequences if the requirements are not met. The site also offers parents a variety of example videos, identifies key checkpoints, and shows how to set up their coaching program. To see the full article, go to: www.michiganradio.org/ To view the website, go to: www.saferdrivingforteens.org.
Make your 2013 traffic safety resolutions
Source: California Office of Traffic Safety
It's the time of year for people to be making their New Year's resolutions, resolving to change bad habits, start a new healthy activity, or do good things for other people. It's also time for the California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) to offer a list of resolutions we can all adopt, making 2013 a safer year for everyone on our roads. For more help on getting safely through the New Year, drivers are encouraged to participate in the "RUOK?" campaign, which carries the message that if you have to ask someone if they are okay to drive, you probably already know that they aren't. The California OTS Facebook page has lists of non-alcoholic Designated Driver Drinks, or "DDrinks," plus contests and interactions on Twitter and Instagram – www.facebook.com/CaliforniaOTS. To see the full article, including suggested resolutions, go to: www.globenewswire.com/
Video on distracted driving a step out of the box for Michigan DOT
Source: Fox 17 West Michigan, December 24, 2012
The latest video from the Michigan Department of Transportation is not what you would expect from a government agency. In the video, a Michigan State Police Lt. Thad Peterson and MDOT's Bob Felt, playing a sports announcer, hold microphones and provide color commentary interspersed with images of a prison inmate pacing his cell. "Bob, I expect to see a flurry of activity in a very confined space today, punctuated by long stretches of boredom," says Peterson. But the topic is serious: distracted driving. The point: it could land you in jail. The new video is titled "Distracted driver crashes and goes to jail." http://fox17online.com/
Michigan DOT launches snowplow education initiative for motorists
Source: Automotive Fleet, December 20, 2012
The Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) and the County Road Association of Michigan (CRAM) launched a campaign to educate motorists about how to deal with snowplows on roads. MDOT stated that despite a decrease in funding for state and local agencies that has forced them to change their plowing priorities, snowplows will still be out on state roads and drivers need to be aware of how to maneuver around them and their crews safely. MDOT cautioned motorists that snowplows have limited visibility and drivers cannot see directly behind their trucks. They also reminded that snowplows often throw up snow clouds, reducing visibility on all sides of the truck. To see the full article, go to: http://www.automotive-fleet.com/
(IL) State officials say traffic-death signs spreading awareness
Source: Chicago Tribune, January 8, 2013
Roadway deaths in Illinois rose 4% overall last year but showed a slight decrease in the second half of the year after an awareness campaign that included a running tally of traffic deaths on highway message boards. However, the State Transportation Secretary stopped short of drawing a direct link between the signs and the drop in fatalities. IDOT said 3 out of 4 public responses about the signs have been positive. Criticisms include that listing the fatality figures is alarming and that the signs could distract drivers from concentrating on traffic. The electronic display will continue this year and will start showing the 2013 count in the next couple of weeks, officials said. As of the article date, three people had died in three crashes in the state this year, according to IDOT. The numbers are down from 15 fatalities last year by that time. To see the full article, go to: www.chicagotribune.com/
WORK - HOME
Survey: Nearly two-thirds of Americans lack vehicle winter emergency kit
Source: Automotive Fleet, January 2, 2013
Results of a recent online survey indicate that most drivers aren't adequately prepared for winter weather. A total of 65% of respondents said they don't have a winter emergency kit in their car. "If you have to travel in winter weather, an emergency kit can be a life-saving tool," said Linda White, location general manager at CarMax in Midlothian, Va. "Most people already have the suggested items; it's just a matter of collecting them and putting them in your car." To see the full article, including the recommended list of items for a winter emergency kit, go to: www.automotive-fleet.com/
WORKPLACE ROAD SAFETY
IRS changes standard mileage reimbursement rate to 56.5 cents for 2013
Source: Automotive Fleet, December 13, 2012
The Internal Revenue Service has changed the 2013 optional standard mileage reimbursement rates to 56.5 cents per mile for business miles driven, an increase of 1 cent from 2011 and 2012. The IRS also changed reimbursement miles for medical or moving purposes to 24 cents per mile, and to 14 cents per mile driven in service to a charitable organization. The new rates go into effect Jan. 1, 2013. Taxpayers can't use the business standard mileage rate for a vehicle after using any depreciation method under the Modified Accelerated Cost Recovery System (MACRS) or after claiming a Section 179 deduction for that vehicle. In addition, the business standard mileage rate cannot be used for more than four vehicles used simultaneously. To see the full article, go to: www.automotive-fleet.com/
Kick the safety habit
Source: ISHN, December 12, 2012
Too often safety professionals sell improving safety performance through a culture intervention using behavior-based safety. Inevitably, management changes, markets tighten, severe cost reduction measures are imposed, and recession hits. Behavior-based safety observations fall by the wayside. Employees migrate back to their comfort zone returning to old habits. It is time to kick the behavior-based safety habit. Start thinking about safety in the terms of the individual's habits. Educate employees on how to change their own safety habits and forget about trying to change the safety culture. To see the full article, go to: www.ishn.com/
LeasePlan USA takes firm stance on distracted driving: No phones - period - for all employees driving a company car
Source: December, 13 2012
LeasePlan USA, a provider of vehicle leasing and fleet management solutions, has implemented a new company wide distracted driving policy. Employees are not allowed to use phones or smart devices while operating LeasePlan vehicles - period. In addition to launching this policy, LeasePlan is encouraging all employees to sign a safe driving pledge and inviting family members to commit to safer driving practices. LeasePlan launched this new policy during national Drive Safely Work Week. Drive Safely Work Week is the Network of Employees for Traffic Safety's (NETS) annual workplace safety campaign, providing a turnkey way to remind employees about safe driving practices. www.us.leaseplan.com/
Automotive Fleet recognizes the top women in fleet
Source: Automotive Fleet Magazine, December 2012
What was once considered a predominantly male industry now overflows with an abundance of talented and skilled female professionals. Featured in this article are those who stand out among the long list of women who have made a difference — those who have demonstrated success in their own specific organizations, as well as in industry associations, and serve as an example to the rest of their peers. (Editor's note: NETS congratulates all 25 professionals featured in this article, and is proud that 14 of the companies they represent are NETS members.) To see the list of the 25 top women in fleet, go to: www.automotive-fleet.com/
Innovation and Technology
CES: Distracted driving? You ain't seen nothing yet
Source: FoxNews.com, January 9, 2013
On display at this month's Consumer Electronics Show (CES) was an explosion of in-car apps, Internet services — even behind-the-wheel video conferencing — that is bound to concern government officials working to combat driver distraction. And with more advanced technology — including self-driving cars — rapidly rolling out, rulemakers are finding it hard to keep up. This will be the year of the connected car, with all the major automakers pushing Web-based services through their entire lines, from luxury brands like Lexus to budget models from Chevy. To see the full article, including a run-down on what's coming soon, go to: www.foxnews.com/
Built-in car seat heart monitors could keep fatigued drivers off the road
Source: Digital Trends.com, December 18, 2012
Researchers have created a way to measure a driver's Heart Rate Variability (HRV) and heartbeat stability, which are key indicators of whether a person is falling asleep. Before this technological breakthrough, it was only possible to monitor heart function with sensors attached with gel to a person's bare chest. These new sensors are deliberately mounted low in the seatback and underneath the seat covering material to avoid movement noise. If the technology can be inexpesively applied to future vehicles, automakers will most likely jump at the chance to offer the in-seat monitors. To see the full article, go to: www.digitaltrends.com/
Thermal camera prevents deer collisions
Source: Vision Systems Design, December 1, 2012
To allow drivers to avoid collisions with wildlife, University of Minnesota Duluth researchers have developed a system to study whether infrared imaging systems can be used to detect the presence of large animals such as deer and to track their locations using thermal imaging techniques. A thermal camera is interfaced to a frame grabber as well as a PC and a custom motion control system that can move the camera laterally and vertically. Image-processing software extracts the shape of the deer in the captured images that are then compared to patterns of deer contained in a database. Such a system could detect and track the deer and determine their speed, direction, and whether they are an immediate threat to the vehicle. To see the full article, go to: www.vision-systems.com/
Concept tire uses color-coding to monitor tread wear
Tires are, simply put, the most important piece of equipment on your car; they are literally where the rubber meets the road, and keeping them in their best condition is paramount in maintaining your vehicle's performance and safety. Tires are a consumable part that eventually wears out, but it can be difficult to tell how worn a tire is simply by looking at it. A new product in design could change that. The Discolor Tyre is a conceptual tire design that looks like your average black rubber tire, but features a layer of bright-orange rubber that is molded and embedded within. When the tire has worn down to the legal minimum level, the orange rubber is exposed and can be easily seen from curbside by the driver. When you see orange, then it's time to replace the tire. To see the full article, go to: http://reviews.cnet.com/
Car functions now controlled by waving a hand
Source: USA Today, January 10, 2013
There will soon be a new way to think about gestures when it comes to drivers maneuvering through traffic. Automakers are starting to use gestures to let drivers control functions of the car, whether it's an approaching hand to activate a dashboard infotainment system or the kick of a leg to open a crossover's tailgate. The goal: Make it "safe and easy to use," says Mitchell Zarders, a Hyundai senior engineer, who notes the functionality is still in its infancy. "You are going to be amazed in a couple years. (Gesture control) isn't going to resemble anything that you see today." Safety is driving the concept. Designers are striving to find ways that drivers can avoid fiddling for buttons, knobs, switches or icons on an electronic display screen as a car barrels down the interstate. The use of voice commands to change radio stations, phone home or search for an address is becoming common. The ability to wave a hand, rather than having to glance down at the dashboard, is considered a natural next step in the war against driver distraction. To see the full article, go to: www.usatoday.com/
INTERNATIONAL ROAD SAFETY
Study: Why is road safety in the U.S. not on par with Sweden, the U.K., and the Netherlands?
Source: University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute (UMTRI), January, 2013
This study compared road safety and related factors in the U.S. with those in Sweden, the United Kingdom, and the Netherlands, to identify actions most likely to produce casualty reductions in the U.S. The reviewed topics were basic country statistics, road fatalities and various fatality rates, national road-safety strategies, and selected road-safety issues. The main differences concerned structural and cultural factors (such as vehicle distance driven), and procedural factors (such as road-safety strategies and targets, alcohol-impaired driving, exceeding speed limits, and use of seat belts). The main recommendations for improving road safety in the U.S. are as follows: (1) lower states' BAC limits to 0.5 g/l and introduce effective random breath testing, (2) reexamine the current speed-limit policies and improve speed enforcement, (3) implement primary seat-belt-wearing laws in each state that would cover both front and rear occupants, and reward vehicle manufacturers for installation of advanced seat-belt reminders, (4) reconsider road-safety target setting so that the focus is on reducing fatalities and not on reducing fatality rate per distance driven, and (5) consider new strategies to reduce vehicle distance driven. To view the report, go to: http://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/
Ford offers free driver training in India
Source: Automotive Fleet Global, January 9, 2013
With the New Year, India usually sees a spike in road crashes. As a leading automaker, Ford India has stepped up its efforts towards creating safer roads in India, offering free training under its Driving Skills for Life (DSFL) program. A mix of classroom and practical training sessions, the program aims to promote safe, economic, and eco-friendly driving across the sub-continent. In 2012, the program reached varied audiences, including customers, corporate employees, college students, and other special groups. Ford DSFL now is in its fifth year training newly licensed drivers in Asia, with programs in China, India, Taiwan, South Africa, Thailand, Vietnam, the Philippines and Indonesia. DSFL programs are tailored in each of these markets to reflect the local driving environment and road conditions. So far, over 60,000 drivers have participated in the program across Asia. To see the full article, go to: www.automotive-fleet.com/
Distracted drivers outnumber impaired drivers: a first for Saskatchewan
Source: GlobalRegina.com, January 03, 2013
For the first time in Saskatchewan's history, there are more distracted drivers than impaired drivers on the road. In the past, there were 173 fatalities due to collisions. Fifty-seven of those were attributed to distracted driving, while alcohol was the main factor in 54 fatalities. Across Canada, a number of awareness campaigns have tried to show the worst that can happen when drivers are focused elsewhere. Distracted driving is not a new phenomenon. But the huge increase in available technology has definitely amplified the risks. To see the full article, go to: www.globalregina.com/
Ministers praise councils for removing 'unnecessary' road signs
Souce: BBC News, January 3, 2012
Government ministers in the United Kingdom praised local authorities in London, Hampshire and Somerset for removing "confusing and ugly" road signs and urged other councils to follow suit. In October 2011, government ministers lifted the requirement for certain road signs and the government plans to give councils more discretion over where they place signs, with new rules expected in 2014. Ministers have warned that excessive signs can be a distraction to motorists and make roads appear "unattractive". In London, 8,000 signs have been taken down. To see the full article, go to: http://www.bbc.co.uk/
Traffic safety research center opens in Beijing
Source: Occupational Health and Safety. January 2, 2013
The China Sweden Research Center for Traffic Safety officially opened in Beijing in mid-December, but pilot projects aimed at improving road safety in both Sweden and in China already are under way, including studying crashes in China involving trucks and buses. The center also aims to boost the exchange of technology and expertise between the two countries and to support the two governments' decisions on issues relating to traffic safety. Partners in the project included AB Volvo, the Volvo Car Group, Chalmers University of Technology, the Chinese Ministry of Transport's Research Institute of Highways, and Tongji University. To see the full article, go to: http://ohsonline.com/
European Transport Safety Council (ETSC) Drink Driving Monitor, January 2013
The 18th Drink Driving Monitor brings news from across the EU on steps to further improve drink driving legislation and enforcement. These include the results of the SARTRE project, the TISPOL winter alcohol and drugs campaign, an interview with Arne Winerdal, the CEO of the Swedish Abstaining Motorists' Association, one of the new ETSC member organisations and other news from across the EU. See the full issue here: www.etsc.eu/
Royal awards provide climax to a year of innovation
Source: Roadsafe, December 23, 2012
In his speech at his annual awards ceremony, Prince Michael of Kent highlighted the importance of the private sector in delivering road safety. He praised the leadership shown by The FIA Foundation in launching the Global Decade of Action. He singled out a number of companies including: Michelin, Capita Symonds, and Bosch as examples of companies which put improved safety at the centre of their businesses. Highlighting the wide range of innovation shown among the winners he added: 'But I have one plea — take the good news to others and show them your example. Governments alone cannot deliver casualty reductions — it also takes community action and business leadership to make the difference.' To see the list of the 2012 Prince Michael Road Safety Award Recipients, go to: www.roadsafetyawards.com/
U.S. DOT NEWS
U.S. Department of Transportation proposes new minimum sound requirements for hybrid and electric vehicles
Source: US DOT News Release, January 7, 2013
The U.S. Department of Transportation's National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is proposing that hybrid and electric vehicles meet minimum sound standards in order to help make all pedestrians more aware of the approaching vehicles. Electric and hybrid vehicles do not rely on traditional gas or diesel-powered engines at low speeds, making them much quieter and their approach difficult to detect. The proposed standard would fulfill Congress' mandate in the Pedestrian Safety Enhancement Act that hybrid and electric vehicles meet minimum sound requirements so that pedestrians are able to detect the presence, direction and location of these vehicles when they are operating at low speeds. The sounds would need to be detectable under a wide range of street noises and other ambient background sounds when the vehicle is traveling under 18 miles per hour. NHTSA estimates that if this proposal were implemented there would be 2,800 fewer pedestrian and pedalcyclist injuries over the life of each model year of hybrid cars, trucks and vans and low speed vehicles, as compared to vehicles without sound. To see the full news release, go to: www.nhtsa.gov/
Upcoming Transportation/Safety Events
February 3
Super Bowl XLVII Drunk Driving Prevention Campaign
Super Bowl XLVII — for campaign web banners, facts, and other materials, go to: www.trafficsafetymarketing.gov/superbowl
Fans Dont Let Fans Drive Drunk
Now through March 1
"Be Ready. Be Buckled." Kids' art contest
Sponsored by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA). For more information, go to: www.fmcsa.dot.gov/
March 4-6
E & S Loss Control Executive Forum, Tampa, FL
NETS' Jack Hanley is a scheduled speaker. For more information, go to: www.iso.com/
April 14-16
Lifesavers Conference, Denver, CO
NETS' Jack Hanley is a scheduled speaker. For more information, go to: www.lifesaversconference.org/
April 23-26
NAFA's 2013 Institute & Expo, Atlantic City, NJ
For more information, go to: www.nafainstitute.org/
May 6-12
2nd UN Global Road Safety Week- Focus on Pedestrian Safety
The World Health Organization will be developing an advocacy toolkit for the Week. A new Pedestrian Good Practice Manual will also be available. For more information, go to: www.who.int/
NETS Fleet Safety Benchmark Program
If you have a fleet of vehicles, NETS' annual fleet safety benchmark program will help you reduce collisions, injuries and costs. For information, please email Jack Hanley, NETS executive director
The Novice Driver's Road Map
Help your employees help their teenagers become better drivers.
Visit trafficsafety.org to read about the Novice Driver's Roap Map »
About NETSWork
NETSWork is published electronically the 15th of each month by the Network of Employers for Traffic Safety, Lynda Morrissey, editor, Jack Hanley, Executive Director.
For more information, contact Lynda Morrissey
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.
© 2012 Network of Employers for Traffic Safety 344 Maple Avenue West #357 Vienna, VA 22180 NETS is registered by the US Internal Revenue Service as a 501(C)3 non-profit organization
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A monthly publication
Summaries of timely road safety news, events, and alerts LATEST ROAD SAFETY NEWS
Traffic deaths increase in U.S.
Source: The Washington Post, December 20, 2012
Traffic fatalities on the nation's roads have spiked dramatically this year, ending six years of steady decline that had seemed to herald success after decades of effort to make vehicles and roadways less risky. The 7.1% increase in the first nine months of the year was the biggest jump during the January-through-September span since 1975, the year that federal officials began compiling traffic-death data. Federal officials pointed out that the year-to-year comparison was made against 2011, when highway deaths reached their lowest point in more than 60 years. Even with the increase this year, they said the total was 26% below the number killed during the first nine months of 2005. To see the full article, go to: www.washingtonpost.com/
New study finds digital billboards distract drivers
Source: Automotive Fleet, January 3, 2013
A new study found that digital billboards hold a driver's gaze for longer than other signs on the road. The study, which was conducted by the Swedish Transport Administration, found that digital signs often take a driver's eyes off the road for more than two seconds. The study's authors said the billboards are brighter, visible from further away, and show changing advertisements, thereby holding a driver's attention for longer. A similar 2006 study by Virginia Tech for the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) found that anything that takes a driver's eyes off the road for more than two seconds increases the risk of a crash. To see the full article, go to: www.automotive-fleet.com/
CDC study finds one in 24 drivers admits to falling asleep while driving
Source: Automotive Fleet, January 3, 2013
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) conducted a study of driving habits during 2009 and 2010 to find out how many people fall asleep while driving. Out of 147,076 respondents, 4.2% reported having fallen asleep while at the wheel during the previous 30 days. The potential for drowsy driving decreases with age, according to the CDC's findings, with 4.9% of adults ages 18 to 44 reporting having fallen asleep compared to 1.7% out of those 65 years or older. Respondents who were employed were more likely to report drowsy driving (at 5.1%). The CDC went on to say that drowsiness in general impairs driving skills, slowing reaction times and making drivers less attentive. Crashes related to sleep issues are more likely to happen at night or during mid-afternoon, and these crashes often involve a single vehicle going off the road. To see the full article, go to: www.automotive-fleet.com/
Group: Strong road-safety laws are lagging in states
Source: USA Today, January 15, 2013
Nearly a decade of declining road deaths has created complacency among state lawmakers, whose failure to enact stronger highway-safety laws leaves motorists at peril now that traffic fatalities are rising again. That's according to Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety, a non-profit group that grades the states annually on how well they are implementing a set of 15 laws governing everything from seat-belt use to drunken and distracted driving and teen driving safety. In 2010, state legislatures around the USA enacted 22 new traffic-safety laws. Last year, they passed just 10. None of the 18 states without primary seat-belt laws, which allow police to stop motorists who aren't buckled up instead of citing them only when they're pulled over for something else, enacted one. While no state has adopted all 15 laws recommended by Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety, 14 states were graded as "significantly advanced" toward adopting the laws. Six states were marked as falling "dangerously behind." To see the full article, go to: www.usatoday.com/
Mind wandering drives up crash rate
Source: HealthDay News, December 13, 2013
Drivers are often "zoned out" behind the wheel, and this mind wandering contributes to many car crashes, a new study finds. French researchers who reviewed data on nearly 1,000 collisions say half of all crashes may be caused by a driver's wandering thoughts and worries. This study, published online Dec. 13 in the journal BMJ, is part of an effort to understand dangerous driving distractions. The goal is to develop technologies that can alert drivers to hazards they may not pay attention to. External distractions, such as phoning or texting, are known to be linked with crashes. But inattention from distractions such as worries is not well understood. To see the full article, go to: http://health.usnews.com/
Motorists spend 18% of journey time not focusing on the road
Source: RoadTrafficTechnology.com (UK), December 20, 2012
Motorists take their eyes off the road for almost 18% of their time behind the wheel as they get distracted by clouds, scenery and advertisements, according to a new study on driver behavior. The research found that, on average, drivers take their eyes off the road every nine seconds. Using the latest eye-tracking technology, the study recorded drivers' eye movements in order to understand where and what they were looking at and how focused they were on roads. It was found that drivers using navigation devices are more distracted than others, with 22% of their time behind the wheel being spent focused away from the road. For at least 12% of the total travelling time, motorists completely concentrate on navigation screens. In contrast, an average driver spends 3.2% of their journey time on checking mirrors and just 2% looking at oncoming vehicles. To see the full article, go to: www.roadtraffic-technology.com/
New auto crash test dummies can better gauge safety
Source: Detroit Free Press, January 3, 2013
Engineers from General Motors, Ford, Chrysler and other companies have been working together for years to develop advanced crash-test dummies that can more accurately gauge vehicle safety. "We fight with our competitors fiercely in the marketplace, but when it comes to crash dummies, there's a lot more cooperation than people realize," said Jack Jensen, technical manager of GM's crash test lab. Developing new dummies is difficult because they must react to horrendous impacts in the same ways the human body would. But they must be durable enough to absorb scores or even hundreds of crashes. Progress has been slow, but their efforts are close to producing smarter dummies. To see the full article, including four developments in anthropomorphic test-device technology that could soon lead to changes in crash-test procedures, go to: www.freep.com/
Dangerous distraction: Study finds many texting pedestrians
Source: The SeattleTimes, December 12, 2012
Researchers observing pedestrians in Seattle found that nearly one in three people crossing the street at high-risk intersections was distracted by use of a mobile device. Only one in four followed the full safety routine of looking both ways, obeying the lights, and crossing at the appropriate point, the study found. Texters were four times less likely to look before crossing, obey lights or cross at the appropriate place. They also spent more time in the intersection, by nearly 2 seconds, on average. In 2010, there were 529 pedestrian-involved collisions in Seattle, with at least 252 involving some injury. Fifty were serious injuries and six were fatal. Washington and many other states have banned texting or talking on a handheld phone while driving, and some jurisdictions have tried to tackle mobile-device use by pedestrians by broadening jaywalking laws. To see the full article, go to: http://seattletimes.com/
New IIHS crash tests finds some family cars outperform luxury models
Source: Consumer Reports, December 20, 2012
Proving paying more doesn't automatically equate to safer, some midsized cars do better than luxury models in the new frontal offset crash test conducted by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). Of the 18 sedans tested in the latest group, two earned the top rating of Good, 11 were Acceptable, three Marginal, and two Poor. Over the summer, the Institute first evaluated midsized luxury sedans with its new small overlap test. Despite the prestige brand represented, only three out of 11 models earned Good or Acceptable ratings. The small overlap test was added to the organization's regimen in 2012 to drive further improvements in occupant protection. The test replicates a crash in which 25% of the driver side front corner of a car hits an immovable object, such as a tree or a pole. In the test, a vehicle strikes a 5-foot-tall rigid barrier going 40 mph. To see the full article, go to: http://news.consumerreports.org/
The geography of drunk driving
Source: The Atlantic Cities¸ December 31, 2012
The geographic distribution of alcohol-related crashes varies widely according to "A National Portrait of Drunk Driving," a map created by John Nelson at IDV Solutions. Using data from the Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), Nelson mapped ten full years of crashes (2001-2010) on a hexagonal mesh of the United States. Each hexagon represents data collected from a roughly identical space with no regard to administrative boundaries. Their color indicates the percentage of crashes that involved alcohol. Larger hexagons correspond to more accidents -- in the densest areas, the hexagons swell to form a flush surface, whereas in rural areas, the shapes are much smaller. The darker the hexagon, the higher the percentage of crashes involving alcohol. To see the full article, including the map, go to: www.theatlanticcities.com/
Whitehouse dragging feet on car tech known for saving kids
Source: AOL Autos, December 26, 2012
Judy Neiman, a mother from Washington state, is an advocate for backing cameras being mandated as standard equipment. As she tells her story, the sounds come back to her. Her SUV door slamming. The slight bump as she backed up in the bank parking lot. The emergency room doctor's sobs as he said her 9-year-old daughter Sydnee, who previously had survived four open heart surgeries, would not make it this time after being backed over by her Mother's SUV. There is, in fact, a law in place that calls for new manufacturing requirements to improve the visibility behind passenger vehicles to help prevent such fatal backing crashes, which the government estimates kill some 228 people every year - 110 of them children age 10 and under - and injures another 17,000. Congress passed the measure with strong bipartisan backing, and Republican President George W. Bush signed it in 2008. But almost five years later, the standards have yet to be mandated because of delays by the U.S. Department of Transportation, which faced a Feb. 28, 2011, deadline to issue the new guidelines for car manufacturers. In a letter to lawmakers in February, Secretary LaHood said his agency needed more time for "research and data analysis" to "ensure that the final rule is appropriate and the underlying analysis is robust." NHTSA has estimated that making rear cameras standard on every car would add $58 to $88 to the price of vehicles already equipped with dashboard display screens and $159 to $203 for those without them.
To see the full article, go to: http://autos.aol.com/
STATE and regional ROAD SAFETY INITIATIVES
Improving the winter driving skills of Michigan teens
Source: Michigan Radio, December 26, 2012
A website has launched just in time to help parents monitor and improve winter driving skills for teen drivers. The University of Michigan's Transportation Research Institute (UMTRI) created the site called SaferDrivingForTeens.org. This site encourages parents and teens to communicate with each other and clarify safe driving expectations and the consequences if the requirements are not met. The site also offers parents a variety of example videos, identifies key checkpoints, and shows how to set up their coaching program. To see the full article, go to: www.michiganradio.org/ To view the website, go to: www.saferdrivingforteens.org.
Make your 2013 traffic safety resolutions
Source: California Office of Traffic Safety
It's the time of year for people to be making their New Year's resolutions, resolving to change bad habits, start a new healthy activity, or do good things for other people. It's also time for the California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) to offer a list of resolutions we can all adopt, making 2013 a safer year for everyone on our roads. For more help on getting safely through the New Year, drivers are encouraged to participate in the "RUOK?" campaign, which carries the message that if you have to ask someone if they are okay to drive, you probably already know that they aren't. The California OTS Facebook page has lists of non-alcoholic Designated Driver Drinks, or "DDrinks," plus contests and interactions on Twitter and Instagram – www.facebook.com/CaliforniaOTS. To see the full article, including suggested resolutions, go to: www.globenewswire.com/
Video on distracted driving a step out of the box for Michigan DOT
Source: Fox 17 West Michigan, December 24, 2012
The latest video from the Michigan Department of Transportation is not what you would expect from a government agency. In the video, a Michigan State Police Lt. Thad Peterson and MDOT's Bob Felt, playing a sports announcer, hold microphones and provide color commentary interspersed with images of a prison inmate pacing his cell. "Bob, I expect to see a flurry of activity in a very confined space today, punctuated by long stretches of boredom," says Peterson. But the topic is serious: distracted driving. The point: it could land you in jail. The new video is titled "Distracted driver crashes and goes to jail." http://fox17online.com/
Michigan DOT launches snowplow education initiative for motorists
Source: Automotive Fleet, December 20, 2012
The Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) and the County Road Association of Michigan (CRAM) launched a campaign to educate motorists about how to deal with snowplows on roads. MDOT stated that despite a decrease in funding for state and local agencies that has forced them to change their plowing priorities, snowplows will still be out on state roads and drivers need to be aware of how to maneuver around them and their crews safely. MDOT cautioned motorists that snowplows have limited visibility and drivers cannot see directly behind their trucks. They also reminded that snowplows often throw up snow clouds, reducing visibility on all sides of the truck. To see the full article, go to: http://www.automotive-fleet.com/
(IL) State officials say traffic-death signs spreading awareness
Source: Chicago Tribune, January 8, 2013
Roadway deaths in Illinois rose 4% overall last year but showed a slight decrease in the second half of the year after an awareness campaign that included a running tally of traffic deaths on highway message boards. However, the State Transportation Secretary stopped short of drawing a direct link between the signs and the drop in fatalities. IDOT said 3 out of 4 public responses about the signs have been positive. Criticisms include that listing the fatality figures is alarming and that the signs could distract drivers from concentrating on traffic. The electronic display will continue this year and will start showing the 2013 count in the next couple of weeks, officials said. As of the article date, three people had died in three crashes in the state this year, according to IDOT. The numbers are down from 15 fatalities last year by that time. To see the full article, go to: www.chicagotribune.com/
WORK - HOME
Survey: Nearly two-thirds of Americans lack vehicle winter emergency kit
Source: Automotive Fleet, January 2, 2013
Results of a recent online survey indicate that most drivers aren't adequately prepared for winter weather. A total of 65% of respondents said they don't have a winter emergency kit in their car. "If you have to travel in winter weather, an emergency kit can be a life-saving tool," said Linda White, location general manager at CarMax in Midlothian, Va. "Most people already have the suggested items; it's just a matter of collecting them and putting them in your car." To see the full article, including the recommended list of items for a winter emergency kit, go to: www.automotive-fleet.com/
WORKPLACE ROAD SAFETY
IRS changes standard mileage reimbursement rate to 56.5 cents for 2013
Source: Automotive Fleet, December 13, 2012
The Internal Revenue Service has changed the 2013 optional standard mileage reimbursement rates to 56.5 cents per mile for business miles driven, an increase of 1 cent from 2011 and 2012. The IRS also changed reimbursement miles for medical or moving purposes to 24 cents per mile, and to 14 cents per mile driven in service to a charitable organization. The new rates go into effect Jan. 1, 2013. Taxpayers can't use the business standard mileage rate for a vehicle after using any depreciation method under the Modified Accelerated Cost Recovery System (MACRS) or after claiming a Section 179 deduction for that vehicle. In addition, the business standard mileage rate cannot be used for more than four vehicles used simultaneously. To see the full article, go to: www.automotive-fleet.com/
Kick the safety habit
Source: ISHN, December 12, 2012
Too often safety professionals sell improving safety performance through a culture intervention using behavior-based safety. Inevitably, management changes, markets tighten, severe cost reduction measures are imposed, and recession hits. Behavior-based safety observations fall by the wayside. Employees migrate back to their comfort zone returning to old habits. It is time to kick the behavior-based safety habit. Start thinking about safety in the terms of the individual's habits. Educate employees on how to change their own safety habits and forget about trying to change the safety culture. To see the full article, go to: www.ishn.com/
LeasePlan USA takes firm stance on distracted driving: No phones - period - for all employees driving a company car
Source: December, 13 2012
LeasePlan USA, a provider of vehicle leasing and fleet management solutions, has implemented a new company wide distracted driving policy. Employees are not allowed to use phones or smart devices while operating LeasePlan vehicles - period. In addition to launching this policy, LeasePlan is encouraging all employees to sign a safe driving pledge and inviting family members to commit to safer driving practices. LeasePlan launched this new policy during national Drive Safely Work Week. Drive Safely Work Week is the Network of Employees for Traffic Safety's (NETS) annual workplace safety campaign, providing a turnkey way to remind employees about safe driving practices. www.us.leaseplan.com/
Automotive Fleet recognizes the top women in fleet
Source: Automotive Fleet Magazine, December 2012
What was once considered a predominantly male industry now overflows with an abundance of talented and skilled female professionals. Featured in this article are those who stand out among the long list of women who have made a difference — those who have demonstrated success in their own specific organizations, as well as in industry associations, and serve as an example to the rest of their peers. (Editor's note: NETS congratulates all 25 professionals featured in this article, and is proud that 14 of the companies they represent are NETS members.) To see the list of the 25 top women in fleet, go to: www.automotive-fleet.com/
Innovation and Technology
CES: Distracted driving? You ain't seen nothing yet
Source: FoxNews.com, January 9, 2013
On display at this month's Consumer Electronics Show (CES) was an explosion of in-car apps, Internet services — even behind-the-wheel video conferencing — that is bound to concern government officials working to combat driver distraction. And with more advanced technology — including self-driving cars — rapidly rolling out, rulemakers are finding it hard to keep up. This will be the year of the connected car, with all the major automakers pushing Web-based services through their entire lines, from luxury brands like Lexus to budget models from Chevy. To see the full article, including a run-down on what's coming soon, go to: www.foxnews.com/
Built-in car seat heart monitors could keep fatigued drivers off the road
Source: Digital Trends.com, December 18, 2012
Researchers have created a way to measure a driver's Heart Rate Variability (HRV) and heartbeat stability, which are key indicators of whether a person is falling asleep. Before this technological breakthrough, it was only possible to monitor heart function with sensors attached with gel to a person's bare chest. These new sensors are deliberately mounted low in the seatback and underneath the seat covering material to avoid movement noise. If the technology can be inexpesively applied to future vehicles, automakers will most likely jump at the chance to offer the in-seat monitors. To see the full article, go to: www.digitaltrends.com/
Thermal camera prevents deer collisions
Source: Vision Systems Design, December 1, 2012
To allow drivers to avoid collisions with wildlife, University of Minnesota Duluth researchers have developed a system to study whether infrared imaging systems can be used to detect the presence of large animals such as deer and to track their locations using thermal imaging techniques. A thermal camera is interfaced to a frame grabber as well as a PC and a custom motion control system that can move the camera laterally and vertically. Image-processing software extracts the shape of the deer in the captured images that are then compared to patterns of deer contained in a database. Such a system could detect and track the deer and determine their speed, direction, and whether they are an immediate threat to the vehicle. To see the full article, go to: www.vision-systems.com/
Concept tire uses color-coding to monitor tread wear
Tires are, simply put, the most important piece of equipment on your car; they are literally where the rubber meets the road, and keeping them in their best condition is paramount in maintaining your vehicle's performance and safety. Tires are a consumable part that eventually wears out, but it can be difficult to tell how worn a tire is simply by looking at it. A new product in design could change that. The Discolor Tyre is a conceptual tire design that looks like your average black rubber tire, but features a layer of bright-orange rubber that is molded and embedded within. When the tire has worn down to the legal minimum level, the orange rubber is exposed and can be easily seen from curbside by the driver. When you see orange, then it's time to replace the tire. To see the full article, go to: http://reviews.cnet.com/
Car functions now controlled by waving a hand
Source: USA Today, January 10, 2013
There will soon be a new way to think about gestures when it comes to drivers maneuvering through traffic. Automakers are starting to use gestures to let drivers control functions of the car, whether it's an approaching hand to activate a dashboard infotainment system or the kick of a leg to open a crossover's tailgate. The goal: Make it "safe and easy to use," says Mitchell Zarders, a Hyundai senior engineer, who notes the functionality is still in its infancy. "You are going to be amazed in a couple years. (Gesture control) isn't going to resemble anything that you see today." Safety is driving the concept. Designers are striving to find ways that drivers can avoid fiddling for buttons, knobs, switches or icons on an electronic display screen as a car barrels down the interstate. The use of voice commands to change radio stations, phone home or search for an address is becoming common. The ability to wave a hand, rather than having to glance down at the dashboard, is considered a natural next step in the war against driver distraction. To see the full article, go to: www.usatoday.com/
INTERNATIONAL ROAD SAFETY
Study: Why is road safety in the U.S. not on par with Sweden, the U.K., and the Netherlands?
Source: University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute (UMTRI), January, 2013
This study compared road safety and related factors in the U.S. with those in Sweden, the United Kingdom, and the Netherlands, to identify actions most likely to produce casualty reductions in the U.S. The reviewed topics were basic country statistics, road fatalities and various fatality rates, national road-safety strategies, and selected road-safety issues. The main differences concerned structural and cultural factors (such as vehicle distance driven), and procedural factors (such as road-safety strategies and targets, alcohol-impaired driving, exceeding speed limits, and use of seat belts). The main recommendations for improving road safety in the U.S. are as follows: (1) lower states' BAC limits to 0.5 g/l and introduce effective random breath testing, (2) reexamine the current speed-limit policies and improve speed enforcement, (3) implement primary seat-belt-wearing laws in each state that would cover both front and rear occupants, and reward vehicle manufacturers for installation of advanced seat-belt reminders, (4) reconsider road-safety target setting so that the focus is on reducing fatalities and not on reducing fatality rate per distance driven, and (5) consider new strategies to reduce vehicle distance driven. To view the report, go to: http://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/
Ford offers free driver training in India
Source: Automotive Fleet Global, January 9, 2013
With the New Year, India usually sees a spike in road crashes. As a leading automaker, Ford India has stepped up its efforts towards creating safer roads in India, offering free training under its Driving Skills for Life (DSFL) program. A mix of classroom and practical training sessions, the program aims to promote safe, economic, and eco-friendly driving across the sub-continent. In 2012, the program reached varied audiences, including customers, corporate employees, college students, and other special groups. Ford DSFL now is in its fifth year training newly licensed drivers in Asia, with programs in China, India, Taiwan, South Africa, Thailand, Vietnam, the Philippines and Indonesia. DSFL programs are tailored in each of these markets to reflect the local driving environment and road conditions. So far, over 60,000 drivers have participated in the program across Asia. To see the full article, go to: www.automotive-fleet.com/
Distracted drivers outnumber impaired drivers: a first for Saskatchewan
Source: GlobalRegina.com, January 03, 2013
For the first time in Saskatchewan's history, there are more distracted drivers than impaired drivers on the road. In the past, there were 173 fatalities due to collisions. Fifty-seven of those were attributed to distracted driving, while alcohol was the main factor in 54 fatalities. Across Canada, a number of awareness campaigns have tried to show the worst that can happen when drivers are focused elsewhere. Distracted driving is not a new phenomenon. But the huge increase in available technology has definitely amplified the risks. To see the full article, go to: www.globalregina.com/
Ministers praise councils for removing 'unnecessary' road signs
Souce: BBC News, January 3, 2012
Government ministers in the United Kingdom praised local authorities in London, Hampshire and Somerset for removing "confusing and ugly" road signs and urged other councils to follow suit. In October 2011, government ministers lifted the requirement for certain road signs and the government plans to give councils more discretion over where they place signs, with new rules expected in 2014. Ministers have warned that excessive signs can be a distraction to motorists and make roads appear "unattractive". In London, 8,000 signs have been taken down. To see the full article, go to: http://www.bbc.co.uk/
Traffic safety research center opens in Beijing
Source: Occupational Health and Safety. January 2, 2013
The China Sweden Research Center for Traffic Safety officially opened in Beijing in mid-December, but pilot projects aimed at improving road safety in both Sweden and in China already are under way, including studying crashes in China involving trucks and buses. The center also aims to boost the exchange of technology and expertise between the two countries and to support the two governments' decisions on issues relating to traffic safety. Partners in the project included AB Volvo, the Volvo Car Group, Chalmers University of Technology, the Chinese Ministry of Transport's Research Institute of Highways, and Tongji University. To see the full article, go to: http://ohsonline.com/
European Transport Safety Council (ETSC) Drink Driving Monitor, January 2013
The 18th Drink Driving Monitor brings news from across the EU on steps to further improve drink driving legislation and enforcement. These include the results of the SARTRE project, the TISPOL winter alcohol and drugs campaign, an interview with Arne Winerdal, the CEO of the Swedish Abstaining Motorists' Association, one of the new ETSC member organisations and other news from across the EU. See the full issue here: www.etsc.eu/
Royal awards provide climax to a year of innovation
Source: Roadsafe, December 23, 2012
In his speech at his annual awards ceremony, Prince Michael of Kent highlighted the importance of the private sector in delivering road safety. He praised the leadership shown by The FIA Foundation in launching the Global Decade of Action. He singled out a number of companies including: Michelin, Capita Symonds, and Bosch as examples of companies which put improved safety at the centre of their businesses. Highlighting the wide range of innovation shown among the winners he added: 'But I have one plea — take the good news to others and show them your example. Governments alone cannot deliver casualty reductions — it also takes community action and business leadership to make the difference.' To see the list of the 2012 Prince Michael Road Safety Award Recipients, go to: www.roadsafetyawards.com/
U.S. DOT NEWS
U.S. Department of Transportation proposes new minimum sound requirements for hybrid and electric vehicles
Source: US DOT News Release, January 7, 2013
The U.S. Department of Transportation's National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is proposing that hybrid and electric vehicles meet minimum sound standards in order to help make all pedestrians more aware of the approaching vehicles. Electric and hybrid vehicles do not rely on traditional gas or diesel-powered engines at low speeds, making them much quieter and their approach difficult to detect. The proposed standard would fulfill Congress' mandate in the Pedestrian Safety Enhancement Act that hybrid and electric vehicles meet minimum sound requirements so that pedestrians are able to detect the presence, direction and location of these vehicles when they are operating at low speeds. The sounds would need to be detectable under a wide range of street noises and other ambient background sounds when the vehicle is traveling under 18 miles per hour. NHTSA estimates that if this proposal were implemented there would be 2,800 fewer pedestrian and pedalcyclist injuries over the life of each model year of hybrid cars, trucks and vans and low speed vehicles, as compared to vehicles without sound. To see the full news release, go to: www.nhtsa.gov/
Upcoming Transportation/Safety Events
February 3
Super Bowl XLVII Drunk Driving Prevention Campaign
Super Bowl XLVII — for campaign web banners, facts, and other materials, go to: www.trafficsafetymarketing.gov/superbowl
Fans Dont Let Fans Drive Drunk
Now through March 1
"Be Ready. Be Buckled." Kids' art contest
Sponsored by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA). For more information, go to: www.fmcsa.dot.gov/
March 4-6
E & S Loss Control Executive Forum, Tampa, FL
NETS' Jack Hanley is a scheduled speaker. For more information, go to: www.iso.com/
April 14-16
Lifesavers Conference, Denver, CO
NETS' Jack Hanley is a scheduled speaker. For more information, go to: www.lifesaversconference.org/
April 23-26
NAFA's 2013 Institute & Expo, Atlantic City, NJ
For more information, go to: www.nafainstitute.org/
May 6-12
2nd UN Global Road Safety Week- Focus on Pedestrian Safety
The World Health Organization will be developing an advocacy toolkit for the Week. A new Pedestrian Good Practice Manual will also be available. For more information, go to: www.who.int/
NETS Fleet Safety Benchmark Program
If you have a fleet of vehicles, NETS' annual fleet safety benchmark program will help you reduce collisions, injuries and costs. For information, please email Jack Hanley, NETS executive director
The Novice Driver's Road Map
Help your employees help their teenagers become better drivers.
Visit trafficsafety.org to read about the Novice Driver's Roap Map »
About NETSWork
NETSWork is published electronically the 15th of each month by the Network of Employers for Traffic Safety, Lynda Morrissey, editor, Jack Hanley, Executive Director.
For more information, contact Lynda Morrissey
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.
© 2012 Network of Employers for Traffic Safety 344 Maple Avenue West #357 Vienna, VA 22180 NETS is registered by the US Internal Revenue Service as a 501(C)3 non-profit organization
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