The National Safety Council has received four federal pass-through grants totaling nearly $1.3 million to help employers prevent roadway crashes, injuries and fatalities through its Our Driving Concern program. The awards will expand efforts to equip employers with free education, training and resources that strengthen safety culture and protect workers both on and off the job. 

The funding supports the Council’s continued collaboration with state highway safety offices in Texas, Ohio, North Carolina and West Virginia to address leading crash factors such as distraction, speed and lack of seat belt use. The grants were awarded by the Texas Department of Transportation, the Ohio Department of Public Safety, the North Carolina Governor’s Highway Safety Program and the West Virginia Governor’s Highway Safety Program. Together, these partnerships will enable NSC to broaden its reach, engage more employers and align with each state’s strategic highway safety goals to reduce crashes, serious injuries and fatalities on the road. 

“Prevention requires action. These grants empower employers by giving them free tools, training and support to provide to their employees – and, in turn, to their communities,” said Lorraine Martin, NSC CEO. “They also allow us to deepen our partnerships with state agencies and expand the reach of Our Driving Concern, helping more organizations protect what matters most – their people.” 

“These grants help us work directly with employers to make traffic safety part of everyday workplace culture,” said Cody Stewart, senior program manager of Our Driving Concern. “When employees model safe driving habits, the impact extends beyond the workplace to families and communities across each state we serve.” 

Texas: Continuing an 18-Year Partnership

TxDOT awarded NSC $746,018 to continue an 18-year collaboration advancing employer traffic safety in Texas. This funding provides free training and resources to help employers address risky driving behaviors, reduce costs and save lives. Through Our Driving Concern Texas, NSC will continue delivering programs and materials that empower employers to strengthen their safety culture and extend traffic safety awareness beyond the workplace to families and communities. For more information, visit tx.ourdrivingconcern.org. 

Ohio: Expanding Employer Traffic Safety Initiative

Through a grant of $181,469, the Ohio Traffic Safety Office, a division of the Ohio Department of Public Safety, is partnering with NSC to expand the reach and impact of the Our Driving Concern Ohio program. This initiative focuses on reducing traffic-related injuries and fatalities by addressing key crash risk factors such as seat belt use, speeding and distracted driving.

Through this program, Ohio employers will gain access to tailored training and education designed to help them build or reinforce safe driving habits in the workplace. For more information, visit oh.ourdrivingconcern.org. 

North Carolina: Tackling Speeding and Supporting Young Driver Safety at Work

The North Carolina Governor’s Highway Safety Program awarded NSC $141,239 to advance driver safety initiatives focused on speeding, distracted driving and young drivers. According to NSC Injury Facts®, transportation incidents were the leading cause of workplace fatalities in North Carolina in 2022. 

Through this grant, NSC will partner with employers and statewide organizations to deliver evidence-based traffic safety education and resources. The goal is to help reduce crashes, prevent injuries and promote safer driving behaviors on North Carolina roadways. For more information, visit nc.ourdrivingconcern.org.

West Virginia: Enhancing Workplace Safety for Drivers

The West Virginia Governor’s Highway Safety Program awarded NSC $225,291 to develop and deliver employer-focused traffic safety resources. Through this initiative, NSC will support employers across West Virginia in addressing key risk areas that impact worker safety both on and off the job, including speeding, seat belt use, older driver safety and impairment. 

By focusing on workplace audiences, NSC and the West Virginia GHSP aim to reach a broad segment of the driving population, helping employers reinforce safe driving behaviors, promote a culture of responsibility and protect their most valuable assets: their people. 

NSC proudly partners with state and federal agencies to make roads safer for everyone. By engaging employers to champion traffic safety, the goal is to shape safer driving behaviors and work toward a future with zero roadway fatalities. 

For more information, visit ourdrivingconcern.org.