October 4, 2004

From AAA Michigan to Autoliv and Spartan Stores to Steelcase, employers from around the state have one thing in common this week: encouraging businesses to adopt workplace traffic safety programs to combat the leading cause of on-the-job death and injury -- traffic crashes. These employers are part of a group that has been working for nearly a decade to address traffic safety in the workplace, the Michigan Network of Employers for Traffic Safety (NETS), a program sponsored by the Michigan Office of Highway Safety Planning (OHSP).

Fifteen businesses and non-profit groups comprise the advisory board for Michigan NETS, lending their expertise and advocacy to a program designed to promote safe driving, and as a side benefit, reduced costs to business.

Board members gathered at AAA Michigan headquarters in Dearborn today to showcase their commercial and safety training vehicles and programs to kick off a national campaign, Drive Safely Work Week. The theme "Safe drivers are good company; make safe driving your business" is designed to emphasize the importance of safe driving, both on and off the job.

Highway crashes remain the most frequent type of fatal workplace event. Michigan reported 151 workplace fatalities in 2002, and nearly a third of these were transportation incidents, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. That figure is above the national average. Truck drivers had more fatal injuries than any other individual occupation, with approximately 15 percent of all fatal work injuries occurring in this particular profession.

Board members represent AAA Michigan of Dearborn, Autoliv of Auburn Hills, Consumers Energy of Jackson, Detroit Edison of Detroit, General Motors of Detroit, Kellogg of Battle Creek, Michigan Center for Truck Safety of Lansing, OHSP of Lansing, Pfizer of Kalamazoo, Platinum Educational Group of Grand Rapids, Spartan Stores of Grand Rapids, Steelcase of Grand Rapids, Traffic Safety Association of Michigan, UPS Metro-Detroit and Michigan Districts and Wheels, Inc., of Brighton.

"No doubt about it, this program is strong and well respected because of the backing we have from such a broad range of state businesses," said Michael L. Prince, division director of the Michigan Office of Highway Safety Planning (OHSP). OHSP started the NETS program in Michigan, recognizing that employers could play a key role in its efforts to reduce traffic deaths and injuries.

According to the National NETS organization, the average crash costs an employer $16,500. In 2002, on-the-job motor vehicle crashes cost 1,372 American workers their lives, 25 percent of all work-related deaths.

The Michigan NETS program has approximately 500 employer members today. These employers are encouraged to adopt safety belt use policies, reward employees for safety belt use, include articles in company newsletters, hang posters and provide safe driving reminders and tips throughout the year.

Read more press releases from the Michigan State Police.