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LATEST ROAD SAFETY NEWS

NETS partners with Global NCAP to host Fleet Safety Open Day at IIHS

Source: NETS, November 10, 2016

The 2016 Global New Car Assessment Programme's (NCAP) Annual Meeting was held October 26-28 at the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety's (IIHS) Vehicle Research Center (VRC) near Charlottesville, Virginia. The Annual Meeting featured a Fleet Safety Open Day organized in association with the Network of Employers for Traffic Safety (NETS.) Joe McKillips, NETS Executive Director, moderated an employer panel of fleet safety leaders with drivers operating around the world, who have committed to transitioning to the application of NCAP four and five-star ratings for all of their light duty vehicles. The panel consisted of representatives from NETS board member companies Shell and Johnson & Johnson, NETS member company DuPont, BHP Billiton and the director of the Eastern Alliance for Safe and Sustainable Transport (EASST.) Following the panel discussion, the Fleet Safety Open Day included crash-avoidance technology demonstrations, the opportunity for attendees to drive vehicles with the latest safety features and a live car-to-car crash test to demonstrate the differences in a vehicle manufactured to be sold in the U.S. and one manufactured to be sold in Mexico. To see the full article, including video and photos of the event, go to: trafficsafety.org/

Millions fall asleep behind the wheel according to National Sleep Foundation's Sleep Health Index™

Source: National Sleep Foundation, November 4, 2016

The National Sleep Foundation's (NSF) recent fielding of the Sleep Health Index™ (SHI) reports staggering drowsy driving statistics, revealing a clear need for significant action that is long overdue. Three percent of Americans, representing more than seven million drivers, reported falling asleep behind the wheel within the past two weeks. Equally alarming, results of the SHI also indicate that people only felt well-rested about four days per week. Other results from the SHI found that only eight percent of respondents reported having avoided driving in the past two weeks because of feeling tired. Additionally, only two percent of respondents indicated that they avoided taking a ride with a driver who they felt was too tired to drive safely in that same time period. These numbers highlight the importance of drowsy driving legislation, public education and awareness programs. To reduce the 6,400 annual deaths attributed to drowsy driving, NSF declared November 6-13, 2016 Drowsy Driving Prevention Week® (DDPW). To see the full article, go to: www.prnewswire.com/

Grab coffee before you hit the road: Mornings deadliest for drowsy drivers

Source: USA Today, October 30, 2016

Drowsy driving-related roadway fatalities spike in the early morning hours, with 6 a.m. to 7 a.m., marking the deadliest span, according to a study by SleepJunkie, a website focused on improving sleeping habits. The hours just before and after — 5 a.m. to 6 a.m. and 7 a.m. to 8 a.m. — were the second and third most fatal times, according to the report, which used National Highway Traffic Safety Administration data. The revelation dispels the myth that the sleepy-driver threat peaks in the nighttime hours. Busy interstates accounted for the most sleep-related driving deaths compared to other roadways, likely because of their faster speeds and the greater number of vehicles traveling them. Overall, sleep-related fatalities accounted for 5% of all deaths on interstates. The study even pinpointed the deadliest roadway in the nation for sleep-related accidents: I-37 in southern Texas, where 18% of the highway's fatal crashes are tied to drowsy driving. To see the full article, go to: www.usatoday.com/

Most pickup trucks have poor headlights, IIHS tests show

Source: IIHS News, October 25, 2016

Drivers of late-model pickup trucks are likely to find themselves squinting into the darkness or temporarily blinding other drivers, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety's latest headlight ratings show. All four small pickups evaluated are available only with headlights that earn a poor rating. The same goes for 3 out of 7 large pickups. Only one large pickup, the Honda Ridgeline, is available with good-rated headlights, though all but the most expensive trim levels come with poor ones. Pickups are the third vehicle category to be put through the IIHS headlight evaluations. Midsize cars were the first in March, followed by small SUVs in July. "These latest ratings follow the same disappointing pattern as the other groups," says Matthew Brumbelow, an IIHS senior research engineer. "As vehicle safety has improved in recent years, this important equipment has been overlooked." IIHS is incorporating headlights into the criteria for its highest award, TOP SAFETY PICK+. To qualify for the 2017 award, vehicles will need good or acceptable headlights. To see the full article, go to: www.iihs.org/

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WORK - HOME

National Healthy Sleep Awareness Project urges teens to recharge with sleep as daylight saving time ends

Source: Sleep Review, October 27, 2016

More than two-thirds of high school students in the United States are failing to get sufficient sleep on school nights, according to a study from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Based on this alarming number, the National Healthy Sleep Awareness Project urged sleep-deprived teenagers to recharge by seizing the opportunity for an extra hour of sleep that came with the end of daylight saving time on November 6. Experts recommend that teens should sleep 8 to 10 hours per night on a regular basis to promote optimal health. When well-rested, teens are more likely to be healthy, energetic, and have a positive attitude toward life. Insufficient sleep in teens can have a negative impact on their grades, athletic performance, and mental and physical well-being. It also can influence their decision-making, putting personal and public safety at risk. To see the full article, go to: www.sleepreviewmag.com/

Before you hit send on that text, you might want to make sure the person you're sending it to isn't driving

Source: Washington Post, November 10, 2016

Under a novel legal theory on distracted driving moving through the courts, a person who texts a driver could be held liable for a crash, too. The idea that the sender is no less responsible than the driver first surfaced in New Jersey. Now it's being tested in a lawsuit arising from a fatal crash in western Pennsylvania that prompted lawmakers to impose stricter penalties for distracted driving. Gov. Tom Wolf (D) signed a measure into law earlier this month that could add five years behind bars for a driver involved in a fatal crash who was texting and driving. The law was passed in memory of Daniel E. Gallatin, a volunteer firefighter who was killed in a motorcycle crash in May 2013. In a lawsuit, Gallatin's family alleges that the driver who struck him had been distracted by a text. The family also sued the person who texted the driver. To see the full article, go to: www.washingtonpost.com/

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WORKPLACE ROAD SAFETY

Awards highlight the companies driving down road collisions at work

Source: ETSC.eu, October 19, 2016

The European Transport Safety Council (ETSC) has announced the 2016 winners of the PRAISE awards, recognizing organizations that have taken outstanding measures to improve the safety of their vehicle fleets. Using the road for business is the leading cause of work-related deaths and injuries. It is estimated that in Europe six out of ten work accidents resulting in death are road crashes, including both crashes while driving for work and commuting. The PRAISE award in the large company category went to Johnson & Johnson (a NETS Board Member Company). One of the world's leading healthcare companies, Johnson & Johnson operates in more than 60 countries employing approximately 126,500 people. The company operates a fleet of over 33,000 vehicles worldwide. The PRAISE judges said: "Johnson & Johnson have shown an outstanding, long-term and responsive risk management framework that supports the ongoing improvement of the organization's work-related road risk profile globally… We hope their leadership will inspire companies large and small to step up and do their bit to prevent crashes. These crucial efforts mean fewer injuries and deaths, but also fewer insurance claims and reduced costs. Road safety is truly good for business." To see the full article, go to: etsc.eu/

The Distracted Driving Project: UPS drivers share safety tips for the rest of us

Source: WHNT News, October 19, 2016

UPS delivers more than 18 million packages a day, most of them by truck. So, as you might imagine, driver safety is key to the company. WHNT News interviewed UPS Global Fleet Safety Director (and NETS Board of Directors Member) Emilio Lopez. He's responsible for 100,000 drivers around the world and says today's policies reflect today's reality. Lopez says UPS drivers receive in-depth training on defensive driving. The cabs of their trucks are distraction-free zones. They are taught to check their mirrors every few seconds, using a triangular motion that keeps them constantly aware of the other vehicles around them. In addition, their every move behind the wheel is intended to create and maintain space around the truck. As Lopez explains, "you can always control that by slowing down or using the brake." Driver visibility is also essential. "One of the things we talk about is eye lead time. Eye lead time is where your eyes should be focused as far down the road as you can see. So, it could be eight to 12 seconds down the road. You want to be sure you have that depth," Lopez says. To see the full article, including a video, go to: whnt.com/

Publication: Managing Grey Fleet Safety: A Short Guide for Companies Who's Staff Drive Their Own Cars For Work

Source: European Transport Safety Council, October 14, 2016

When a driver uses their own vehicle for work, they are still under the responsibility of the employer, and this presents a real challenge for managing associated work related road safety risk. Employers may think that it is easier to manage employees using their own cars for work, instead of a company car fleet. However once all of the considerations are taken into account this may not be the case. This guide has been produced to help organizations review and improve grey fleet management, with a specific focus on safety concerns. It will explain the legal responsibilities as well as the business benefits of an effective grey fleet management policy. And it will also explain how grey fleet road risks can be reduced through risk assessment, and stress the importance of integrating grey fleet policy in company procedures and management responsibility. To download the free guide, go to: etsc.eu/

Publication: Managing Road Risk at Work – Case study: British Telecom

ETSC's PRAISE project addresses the safety aspects of driving at work and driving to work. Its aim is to promote best practice in order to help employers secure high road safety standards for their employees. In this interview, David Wallington, Group Safety Advisor at BT, a communications provider based in the UK, discusses the organization's approach to applying road safety risk management in a large company. To download the report, go to: etsc.eu/

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international road safety

Nissan to finally take zero star Tsuru out of production following NCAP campaign

Source: GlobalNCAP.org, October 27, 2016

On the eve of Global NCAP and Latin NCAP's Car to Car crash test, Nissan announced that they will take the Zero Star Tsuru out of production in Mexico next May. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), Global NCAP and Latin NCAP hosted a Car to Car crash last month at the IIHS headquarters in Virginia. The test was conducted between the 2016 Nissan Versa, sold in the United States, and the 2015 Nissan Tsuru, sold in Mexico. Both cars are manufactured in Mexico and have been previously tested by the IIHS and Latin NCAP respectively, the Versa obtained a performance of Good (equivalent to 5 Stars) and the Tsuru was rated Zero Stars. After the test which involved a 50% overlap and a combined closing speed of 80mph (129 km/h), the results graphically highlighted the urgent need for the Nissan Tsuru to be taken out of production. A driver in the Tsuru would have had high probability of suffering life-threatening injuries, it is likely that the crash would have been fatal, there were no airbags, and the main structures all failed, fatally compromising the survival space. David Ward, Global NCAP Secretary General added: "Our first ever Car to Car test clearly shows the importance of minimum crash test regulations. Mexico doesn't yet apply them and the US has had them for decades. The lack of standards can result in the sale of unsafe cars like the Nissan Tsuru. Across Latin America all countries should apply UN or equivalent safety standards to all new passenger cars, so that there is no future for Zero Star Cars." To see the full article, go to: www.globalncap.org/

More than 440,000 deaths and serious injuries could be prevented and up to $143 billion saved if basic UN vehicle regulations were applied in major Latin American countries

Source: GlobalNCAP.org, October 26, 2016

A new report commissioned by Global NCAP and the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) reveals that 40,000 Latin American lives could be saved and 400,000 serious injuries prevented by 2030, if UN vehicle safety regulations were applied by four key countries in the region. The aim of the study was to predict how many car user deaths and injuries could be prevented in four Latin American countries: Argentina, Chile, Mexico and Brazil, by establishing minimum car safety regulations and consumer testing. The major regulations that were considered were United Nations (UN) Regulations No. 14, 16 (seat belts and anchorages), 94 (occupant protection in frontal collision) and 95 (occupant protection in side or lateral collisions). Economic assessment suggests that the casualty reductions could save up to 143 billion US dollars over the period 2016 to 2030. To see the full article, including a link to the report, go to: www.globalncap.org/

Thinking of renting a car in the Yucatán? Think twice

Source: NY Times, October 31, 2016

It was a showdown between an American Nissan and a Mexican Nissan — a contest that served as an object lesson for global tourism. In a crash test last month, the two vehicles were sent speeding toward each other at a combined closing speed of 80 miles an hour. Each car conformed to its home country's national safety standards. Although the 2016 Nissan Versa, a model sold in the United States, sustained considerable front-end damage, the crash-test dummy at the wheel showed only minor knee injuries. But the dummy in the 2015 Nissan Tsuru, a popular model for rentals and taxis in Mexico, indicated injuries that probably would have killed a person on impact. "It's the worst performance I've ever seen," said one expert who witnessed the test, referring to the Tsuru as a "deathtrap." The Tsuru had no airbags and the main structures all failed. When Americans rent a car in the United States, they have come to expect a certain measure of safety. The car driven at home may have many of the latest safety features, but the same make of car rented abroad may not have even the most basic ones. To see the full article, go to: www.nytimes.com/

New Report: Post-crash response: Supporting those affected by road traffic crashes

Source: World Health Organization, November 2016

Survivors and families affected by road traffic crashes have a range of physical, psychological and legal needs. Consequences may include physical injuries and resulting disability, psychological trauma that can impair reintegration into work and family life, and a range of economic and legal consequences. A broad and integrated approach to support survivors and families can mitigate the short- and long-term effects of experiencing a road traffic crash and can help those affected return to function and independence at home and at work. An effective post-crash response requires integration of injury care, mental health services, legal support and legislation, and data on road traffic crashes and injuries. Complemented by case studies from various countries, Post-crash response: supporting those affected by road traffic crashes describes the components of the post-crash response. To see the full description and download the report, go to: www.who.int/

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U.S. DOT NEWS

NHTSA sets 'Quiet Car' safety standard to protect pedestrians

Source: U.S. DOT News Release, November 14, 2016

The U.S. Department of Transportation's National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has announced it is adding a sound requirement for all newly manufactured hybrid and electric light-duty vehicles to help protect pedestrians. The new federal safety standard will help pedestrians who are blind, have low vision, and other pedestrians detect the presence, direction and location of these vehicles when they are traveling at low speeds, which will help prevent about 2,400 pedestrian injuries each year once all hybrids in the fleet are properly equipped. Under the new rule, all hybrid and electric light vehicles with four wheels and a gross vehicle weight rating of 10,000 pounds or less will be required to make audible noise when traveling in reverse or forward at speeds up to 30 kilometers per hour (about 19 miles per hour). At higher speeds, the sound alert is not required because other factors, such as tire and wind noise, provide adequate audible warning to pedestrians. Manufacturers have until Sept. 1, 2019, to equip all new hybrid and electric vehicles with sounds that meet the new federal safety standard. Half of new hybrid and electric vehicles must be in compliance one year before the final deadline. To see the full news release, go to: www.nhtsa.gov/

New Research Note: Driver Electronic Device Use in 2015

Source: NHTSA Occupant Protection and Distracted Driving Update, October 2016

The percentage of passenger vehicle drivers text-messaging or visibly manipulating handheld devices remained constant at 2.2% in 2015. Driver handheld cell phone use decreased from 4.3% in 2014 to 3.8% in 2015; this was not a statistically significant decrease. These results are from the National Occupant Protection Use Survey (NOPUS), which provides the only nationwide probability-based observed data on driver electronic device use in the United States. The NOPUS is conducted annually by the National Center for Statistics and Analysis of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. To view the publication, go to: crashstats.nhtsa.dot.gov/

New: Lives Saved in 2015 by Restraint Use and Minimum-Drinking-Age Laws

Source: NHTSA Occupant Protection and Distracted Driving Update, October 2016

In 2015, the use of seat belts in passenger vehicles saved an estimated 13,941 lives of occupants 5 and older, and an estimated 2,573 lives of occupants 13 and older were saved by frontal air bags. An estimated 266 child occupants 4 and younger were saved by the use of child restraints, and 1,772 lives were saved by the use of motorcycle helmets. An additional 2,804 lives would have been saved in 2015 if all unrestrained passenger vehicle occupants 5 and older involved in fatal crashes had worn their seat belts. Similarly, if all motorcyclists had been helmeted, then an additional 740 lives would have been saved. An estimated 537 lives were also saved due to minimum-drinking-age laws. To view the publication, go to: crashstats.nhtsa.dot.gov/

New: Summary of Motor Vehicle Crashes (Final)

Source: NHTSA Occupant Protection and Distracted Driving Update, October 2016

The number of police-reported motor vehicle crashes, by crash severity, for the 10-year period 2005 to 2014 shows a downward trend and is most pronounced with respect to crashes of the highest severity—fatal crashes declined by 24% over that decade. However, the total number of police-reported traffic crashes increased from 2011 to 2012, from 2012 to 2013, and by 6.6% from 2013 to 2014. This latest increase is driven by the 7.9% increase in property-damage-only crashes—crashes in which there were no injuries to occupants or non-occupants during the crash. The number of non-fatal injury crashes increased from 2013 to 2014 by 3.6%. To view the publication, go to: crashstats.nhtsa.dot.gov/

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Upcoming Transportation/Safety Events

November 20, 2016
World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims

For more information, visit: worlddayofremembrance.org/

November 23-28
Thanksgiving holiday weekend

For safe-driving campaign materials from NHTSA's Traffic Safety Marketing that can be shared with employees, go to: www.trafficsafetymarketing.gov/

November 25-December 11, 2016
Pre-Holiday Season Drunk Driving Prevention

The holiday season is right around the corner. As we prepare for festivities with family and friends, NHTSA wants to remind all drivers that it's dangerous to drive after drinking. For campaign materials from NHTSA's Traffic Safety Marketing, go to: www.trafficsafetymarketing.gov/

December 14, 2016-January 1, 2017
Holiday Season Drunk Driving Prevention

Every holiday season, lives are lost due to drunk drivers. For campaign materials from NHTSA's Traffic Safety Marketing, go to:
www.trafficsafetymarketing.gov/

February 5, 2016
Super Bowl LI

NHTSA's Fans Don't Let Fans Drive Drunk campaign encourages people to make plans ahead of time that will prevent them from getting behind the wheel of a vehicle after drinking. NHTSA'S Traffic Safety Marketing has awareness resources that can be shared with employees here: www.trafficsafetymarketing.gov/

March 26-28 2017
Lifesavers Conference
Charlotte Convention Center

Registration opens November 1. For more information go to: lifesaversconference.org/

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