NAFA Reminds Everyone: Safe Driving Is Serious Business

PRINCETON, NJ, October 03, 2010 (Press-News.org) Distracted driving is not a new issue, but the increasing prevalence of in-vehicle technologies and the growing capabilities of smart phones and other handheld mobile devices has increased the frequency with which today's drivers are tempted to take their minds off of their driving. "Drive Safely Work Week", an annual campaign presented by the Network of Employers for Traffic Safety (NETS) and proudly supported by NAFA Fleet Management Association (NAFA), aims to shine a spotlight on the problem of distracted driving and offer ways for businesses to remind their drivers about the dangers involved.

Each year, cell phone distractions cause 600,000 crashes, 330,000 injuries, and 3,000 deaths according to the U.S. Department of Transportation. This year's Drive Safely Work Week (October 4-8) contains a push for businesses to set up corporate cell phone policies to restrict or ban the use of phones while driving. The campaign encourages businesses to dedicate time to emphasize safe driving messages through facts, communications, and meaningful activities. It also points out several methods - including the use of call blocking technology and encouraging employees to commute via mass transit - that can help businesses reduce distracted driving.

"Businesses across the United States are recognizing the impact of this problem on their employees and are beginning to adopt anti-distracted driving policies," said United States Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood. "The materials in this kit are designed to help advance your company's efforts against distracted driving."

According to NAFA Executive Director Phillip E. Russo, CAE, "Safe driving is essential to the fleet managers who belong to NAFA, a group that collectively manages several million vehicles travelling on North American roads each day. NAFA has lent its support to the annual campaign for the past several years through a series of articles in the Association's print and online publications, press releases, and email blasts to the Membership."

NETS, which has sponsored Drive Safely Work Week since 1996, is dedicated to improving the health and safety of employees, their families and the community by preventing traffic crashes that occur both on- and off-the-job.

Campaign tools may be downloaded for free at http://www.trafficsafety.org.

About NAFA Fleet Management Association
NAFA is the world's premier non-profit association for professionals who manage fleets of sedans, public safety vehicles, trucks, and buses of all types and sizes, and a wide range of military and off-road equipment for organizations across the globe. NAFA is the association for the diverse vehicle fleet management profession regardless of organizational type, geographic location or fleet composition. NAFA's Full and Associate Members are responsible for the specification, acquisition, maintenance and repair, fueling, risk management, and remarketing of more than 3.5 million vehicles including in excess of 1.1 million trucks of which 350 thousand are medium- and heavy-duty trucks. For more information visit http://www.nafa.org

About Network of Employers for Traffic Safety (NETS)
NETS is a 501(c)3 organization, a partnership between the U.S. federal government and leading companies including Abbott, AmeriFleet Transportation, Anheuser-Busch Companies, Chubb Group of Insurance, Johnson & Johnson, Liberty Mutual Insurance Group, Nationwide Mutual Insurance, Monsanto Company, 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 both on- and off-the-job. For more information about NETS, visit http://www.trafficsafety.org.

The National Association of Fleet Administrators, Inc. (NAFA) is a not-for-profit, individual membership professional society serving the needs of members who manage fleets of automobiles, SUVs, trucks and vans, and a wide range of specialized mobile equipment for organizations in the United States and Canada. NAFA provides its Members a full range of products and services, including statistical research, monthly and annual publications, regional chapter meetings, government representation, annual conferences and trade shows, educational seminars and more.