The second week of National Safety Month focuses on transportation safety.
Roadway incidents are a leading cause of workplace death. As the National Safety Council focuses on Staying Safe on the Roads during this week of National Safety Month, it’s fitting to take a look back at how far we’ve come in advancing roadway safety and what lies ahead.
In December 1924, President Herbert Hoover convened the First National Conference on Street and Highway Safety to address growing risks associated with a transformative new technology: the automobile. At the time, there were approximately 12 million vehicles on U.S. roads and more than 20,000 roadway deaths each year.
The conference brought together leaders from organizations such as the National Safety Council, including Sidney Williams, a consultant to the president. This team laid the foundation for modern traffic safety by establishing nationwide requirements, including driver licensing, vehicle registration and rules of the road. These early efforts ultimately helped shape what would become today’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
More than a century later, NSC continues this legacy, advancing roadway safety through data-driven research and a portfolio of training programs designed to reduce risk and influence safer driving behaviors.
NSC has long played a critical role in advancing roadway safety through data-driven research, trend analysis and forward-looking studies. A cornerstone of this work is the ongoing analysis of crash data to identify the primary causes of roadway fatalities.
This research consistently highlights preventable risk factors, such as speeding, impaired driving, and lack of seat belt use, as major contributors to preventable deaths. The Council’s Injury Facts and other statistical reporting serve as trusted resources, helping organizations and policymakers understand long-term safety trends and prioritize interventions.
A key theme in this research is the Safe System Approach, which addresses roadway safety holistically by focusing on safer roads, vehicles, speeds, behaviors and post-crash care. This framework has guided initiatives like the Road to Zero Coalition, a nationwide effort uniting hundreds of organizations to eliminate traffic fatalities by 2050.
Building on this strong foundation, NSC has developed a suite of training programs designed to address the needs of a diverse driving population, from new and young motorists to experienced professionals and high-risk individuals.
These programs go beyond basic instruction, focusing on behavior, hazard identification, decision-making and strategies that empower drivers to make safer choices every time they get behind the wheel.
Key offerings include:
Defensive Driving Courses
Engaging, up-to-date training that equips drivers with practical strategies to prevent collisions, injuries and other incidents. Delivered in various lengths and methods and backed by a legacy of more than 80 million drivers trained, NSC remains a trusted leader in driver safety education.
NSC Fleet Essentials Online Training
Designed to address one of the most significant workplace hazards, driving, by supporting millions of non-commercial drivers who may not have received formal safety training.
Alive at 25®
Focused on younger drivers, this program builds better judgment and decision-making skills, complementing traditional driver education with an emphasis on personal responsibility.
Professional Truck Driver Training
Provides specialized defensive driving techniques tailored to the unique risks of commercial trucking.
State Specific Driver Improvement Programs
Widely used by courts, government agencies and businesses, these programs are recognized for their consistency and quality.
Work Zone Safety Training
Beyond driver training, NSC offers hands-on instruction aligned with national standards to help roadway workers safely perform their duties.
Together, these programs reflect the Council’s enduring commitment to saving lives and fostering a culture of safety on and off the road.
Looking ahead, the Council’s driver training programs will strengthen their impact through closer integration with ongoing research. As NSC analyzes crash data, emerging risks and evolving driver behaviors, these insights will shape more targeted, evidence-based training to address high-risk behaviors like speeding, following too closely, impaired driving, failing to wear a seat belt and violating the right of way.
Emerging tools such as telematics, artificial intelligence and immersive learning platforms will strengthen this connection by enabling continuous feedback between driver performance, research and program design. This dynamic approach will enable organizations to actively monitor performance, reinforce safe behaviors and adapt quickly to new risks.
By aligning research and training more closely than ever, NSC is positioned to help organizations reduce risk, improve accountability and accelerate progress toward safer roads, ultimately saving more lives.
With a century-long legacy, the National Safety Council is a global center for safety expertise. Let's work together to align resources. We look forward to learning about ways we can join efforts to expand safety everywhere!
There are no items in your cart