Network of Employers for Traffic Safety and U.S. Department of Transportation Team to Offer Free On-line Resource to Battle Distracted Driving and Improve Employee Safety

Drive Safely Work Week tool kits available at no cost now through Sept. 20 at http://www.trafficsafety.org

VIENNA, Va.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The Network of Employers for Traffic Safety has partnered with the U.S. Department of Transportation to offer a free comprehensive tool kit to help companies address distracted driving and improve the driving safety of employees -- whether they drive on the job or just to and from work.

“Getting the business community involved in helping combat distracted driving is critical”

Employee traffic crashes, both on and off the job, cost employers an estimated $60 billion annually, according to the most recent government study.

The 2010 Drive Safely Work Week (DSWW) tool kit was developed by the Network of Employers for Traffic Safety (NETS) with support from the U.S. Department of Transportation. The theme of this year’s campaign is “Focus…Safe driving is serious business.” The DSWW materials are designed to support employer efforts to prepare employees for the launch of a corporate mobile device policy. The campaign’s activities, however, can also benefit organizations that are looking to educate employees on the dangers of distracted driving, particularly talking and texting while behind the wheel.

“Getting the business community involved in helping combat distracted driving is critical,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood. “When companies adopt policies against distracted driving, they are increasing the safety for everyone on our roads, and we are grateful to NETS for making this a priority.”

The tool kit provides easy-to-use Web-based resources to support targeted activities for each day of the campaign week. These include interactive, electronic tools, downloadable graphics and daily communications messages.

“The campaign is a call to action for employers to do something to curb distracted driving,” said Bill Windsor, NETS chairman. “Whether it’s reinforcing or strengthening an existing cell phone policy, preparing employees for the launch of a new policy or simply raising awareness of the issue through education, the Drive Safely Work Week campaign provides meaningful tools and activities to help accomplish any of these objectives.”

About DSWW

Drive Safely Work Week is observed nationally each year during the first full week of October; however, the materials are not dated and may be used anytime throughout the year. The DSWW 2010 tool kit can be downloaded at no cost now through Sept. 20, via the NETS Website at http://www.trafficsafety.org

About NETS

NETS is a 501(c)3 organization, a partnership between the U.S. Federal government and the private sector. Board members include Abbott, AmeriFleet Transportation, Anheuser-Busch Companies, Chubb Group of Insurance Companies, Johnson & Johnson, Liberty Mutual Insurance Group, Monsanto Company, Nationwide Mutual Insurance Group, and UPS. Established in 1989, NETS is dedicated to improving the safety and health of employees, their families, and members of the communities in which they live and work by preventing traffic crashes that occur on and off the job. NETS has sponsored DSWW annually since 1996. For more information on NETS, visit www.trafficsafety.org or send an email to [e-mail].