Employer Focus on Distracted Driving Building
Momentum as 2nd DOT Summit Convenes
September 21, 2010 09:38 AM Eastern Daylight Time
WASHINGTON--(EON: Enhanced Online News)--Momentum is building on an important front in the battle
against distracted driving – the workplace—according to the Network of Employers for Traffic Safety (NETS).
NETS, a public-private partnership comprised of leading companies and the federal government, is actively
encouraging employers to enact workplace mobile device policies-- the primary focus of this year’s Drive Safely
Work Week (DSWW) campaign, sponsored annually by the organization.
NETS is seeing the highest level of interest in the 14-year history of the campaign, recognized nationally this year
Oct. 4-8. The organization attributes the increase to its partnership with the U.S. DOT and the campaign’s focus on
launching a sustainable mobile device policy. NETS was recognized for its efforts at today’s 2nd National Distracted
Driving Summit in Washington DC, convened by Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood.
“NETS has been a terrific partner in helping us encourage the business community to adopt distracted driving
policies,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood. “By putting these policies in place, businesses across the
country are helping us protect tens of millions of more drivers and reduce preventable deaths and injuries.”
Traffic crashes are the leading cause of death and injury in the workplace and according to results of a new study
released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention last month, cost Americans more than $99 billion in lost
productivity and medical costs each year.
“The most effective way to modify driving behavior is by combining policy, education and enforcement,” said Bill
Windsor, NETS Chairman. “Employers are in a unique position to apply all three of these key elements to influence
behavior and reduce the occurrence of distracted driving in the workplace.”
In addition to the Drive Safely Work Week campa