Michigan NETS provides information, products and services that improve the safe driving behavior of employees.

Since its inception, Michigan NETS has been successful in promoting traffic safety in the workplace and now has over 800 members. Michigan NETS was created in 1994 by the Office of Highway Safety Planning (OHSP) with the assistance of the National NETS organization.  Michigan was one of seven pilot states in 1994 who adopted the philosophy of bringing together private and public sector officials interested in reducing loss of life and the economic costs on on-and-off-the-job crashes.  Over the last thirteen years, Michigan NETS has encouraged businesses to establish or expand work place traffic safety programs in their own organizations and communities.

The Problem
Motor vehicle injuries and deaths are undeniably tragic.  Immeasurable human suffering and emotional distress, coupled with the tangible cost companies must absorb, present a formidable burden --- one that a business like yours may not be prepared to handle.  Many employers may not realize that on- and off-the-job, there are countless direct and hidden expenses of crashes which can have a devastating impact on financial stability.

Crashes are expensive.  The average employer pays $25,000 for each on-the-job motor vehicle crash and $110,000 per injury.  Motor vehicle crashes cost U.S. employers over $60 billion annually.  In addition to health care and property damage, consider other substantive costs such as hiring a temporary employee, lower productivity, insurance premiums and lawsuits.

The Solution
The good news is that an effective employee traffic safety program through the Network of Employers for Traffic Safety (NETS) can help control these costs and save lives.

The Network of Employers for Traffic Safety
The Network of Employers for Traffic Safety (NETS) is a non-profit organization dedicated to reducing traffic crashes, the primary cause of lost work time and employee fatalities.  NETS helps businesses dramatically reduce the costs associated with motor vehicle crashes through the implementation of effective traffic safety programs.  Some programs are as easy as requiring employees to wear safety belts and drive alcohol and drug free while on company business.  Affiliated with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and the National Commission Against Drunk Driving, NETS is supported by the Federal Highway Safety and Health Administration, and numerous state governors' highway safety offices.

Design Your Own Traffic Safety Program
With NETS, you can easily implement a workplace traffic safety program in your company.  The NETS year-round program enables you to increase productivity while controlling your costs, lost work time and potential liability to third parties.  By increasing traffic safety awareness among your employees, you demonstrate your concern for the well-being of their families and create a valuable sense of community.  NETS is set up so that you can spend as much time as you deem necessary to administer your customized program.

You can designate a person to manage your NETS program, or do it yourself.  No matter what your company size, the return on your investment of time and resources will serve your company well now and in the future.

The workplace is a natural setting for distributing traffic safety messages.  As an employer, you are in a unique position to help your employees avoid the suffering brought on by traffic injuries and deaths, while protecting the bottom line profits of your business.

The NETS workplace traffic safety program uses a three-pronged approach: policies, awareness and training.

Policies are the heart of the plan and provide the standards of performance for your employee.  Awareness activities work hand-in-hand with workplace policies.  Awareness campaigns will alert your employees to dangers and motivate them to change their behavior.  In contrast to work-place policies that establish expected behavior, awareness campaigns motivate compliance.  In addition, it is essential as an employer to provide traffic safety training for all your employees.  Employee training boosts the effects of safety policies and awareness activities.

Michigan NETS Program Services & Advantages of being a NETS partner

A partnership in spirit and in action, Michigan NETS provides the following services to its business partners:

• Expertise and support materials to assist with the development and implementation of traffic safety policies and programs.
• Access to free public information through the Michigan State Police, Management Services Division, 517-333-2722
• Bi-monthly communication on recent traffic safety news & information for the workplace
• National Honor Roll program
• Participation in an annual Drive Safely Work Week campaign
• Improved employee relations---traffic safety programs show you care
• Increased profitability be reducing the number of crashes experienced by employees and their families
• Fulfillment of your organization's corporate community and safety commitments
• Opportunities to collaborate and share information with government colleagues

With business competition greater today than ever before, can you truly afford to spend money needlessly?

For more information on employee training, contact the Michigan corporate outreach coordinator, Dan Vartanian at (517) 333-5322 or e-mail at vartanid@michigan.gov.