09/ 29/ 2006
Did you see the lady behind you in traffic this morning putting lipstick on? Or the gentlemen in the lane next to you reading the newspaper? These distractions and others are increasingly and rapidly making their way into cars during the morning commute.
We almost all drive somewhere almost every day. It's an activity that many of us take for granted. We have to get to work, pick the kids up from school, run errands and go home again. But with over 17,000 traffic crashes across the country each day, driving is a serious responsibility and deserves the full, undivided attention of every motorist.
Drive Safely Work Week is Oct. 2-6 this year. For the past 10 years, the Network of Employers for Traffic Safety (NETS) has sponsored this life-saving campaign to help employers promote safe driving practices within their places of business.
According to the NETS, 91 percent of employees commute to and from work, and 18 percent of all motor vehicle trips are work-related. By celebrating this week and educating employees, small-business owners have an opportunity to make a difference on our nation's roadways by promoting safe driving practices to all employees, thereby improving safety in their own communities and neighborhoods.
The more miles driven by employees, the higher the costs and legal liability for their employers. With one in four work-related deaths due to a traffic-related trauma, the NETS says motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death on the job. In an era where more employers are being held accountable for their employees' roadway actions, it is critical to educate employees about responsible driving and promote safe driving.
Celebrating a decade of Drive Safely Work Week, the NETS offers 10 tips for conscientious driving. Share these tips with your employees:
10 Steps for Responsible Driving
- Plan your route.
- Maintain your vehicle.
- Focus your attention.
- Minimize your distractions.
- Know your surroundings.
- Share your space.
- Watch your speed.
- Keep your distance.
- Signal your intentions.
- Always wear your seatbelt.
For more information on Drive Safely Work Week, contact NETS at (888) 221-0045. You can also visit www.trafficsafety.org for information on getting involved each year, employer fact sheets, sample letters to the editor and more.
