Ohio Traffic Safety Awards
The National Safety Council is honored to recognize these four organizations as recipients of the 2026 Ohio Employer Traffic Safety awards:
- Michels
- Clopay Transportation
- Metallus
- Champion City Drivers Ed
Safety leaders in these organizations have demonstrated what’s possible when safety becomes a shared value – strengthened by thoughtful policies, meaningful training and a commitment to protecting everyone on the road. They have incorporated comprehensive traffic safety programs and built a culture that reduces risk and protects not only employees, but everyone in the communities where they live and work.
“Effective traffic safety programs rely on clear expectations, consistent training and leadership commitment,” said Cody Stewart, senior program manager and director of the Our Driving Concern program at NSC. “This year’s recipients show how those principles translate into real‑world results.”
NSC Program Manager Tracy LeMaire introduced each of the award recipients during a luncheon at the Ohio Traffic Safety Summit in Columbus. Take a deeper dive into what safety initiatives work for these industry leaders and get ideas to ramp up your own safety programs. Download and share this best practice brochure.
Fourth of July Safety
During the Fourth of July holiday, let’s double-down on our commitment to making safety a shared priority at work, behind the wheel and in the community.
Why It Matters
Ohio Traffic Safety Office crash data underscores the risk:
- 2,589 alcohol-related crashes occurred from Jan. 1 to May 4 – that’s more than 20 alcohol-related crashes every day
- 206 people were killed or seriously injured in those crashes
- 1,538 alcohol-related crashes involved property damage during those same four months
Impaired driving crashes are 100% preventable, and risks increase on weekends and during holiday travel. Across the U.S., the Fourth of July holiday driving period can be especially dangerous, according to data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration:
- 579 crash fatalities occurred in 2024 alone
- 38% of drivers killed were drunk
- Highest impairment rates were recorded in the 21-34 age group (47%)
Address Impairment
Impairment goes beyond alcohol. Prescription medications, over-the-counter drugs, cannabis, fatigue and stress can all affect reaction time and judgment. Be proactive with your team:
- Increase knowledge of safety risks; assign our FREE online Impaired Driving course and track completions
- Join us for FREE Workplace Impairment Training (delivered in person at your location or virtually)
- Use real-world scenarios to identify and discuss impairment risks; start by watching this video from the Ohio State Highway Patrol, posted by Local 12 WKRC-TV (Drunk driving chaos strikes Ohio emergency scene)
- Get information and free resources from the National Safety Council to reinforce awareness of fatigue and mental stress as safety hazards
- FREE online training: Learn more about what can cause drowsiness and how to prevent drowsy driving crashes
Key takeaway: Safer employees make safer choices – on and off the job.
Cost of Risky Choices
Medically consulted injuries in motor vehicle incidents totaled $4.9 million in 2024, and total motor vehicle injury costs were estimated at $559.3 billion, according to the National Safety Council. Costs include wage and productivity losses, medical expenses and property damage.
Those numbers can be quantified, but there is no way to calculate the cost of losing a loved one.
Safer Celebrations
Help your team prepare before the holiday arrives. Share these safety tips on a company bulletin board or in an email blast:
- Drive 100% sober: Even one drink can impact safety behind the wheel
- Plan ahead: If you’re going out, designate a sober driver
- If you will be drinking, use a rideshare service or call for a taxi ride home
- Encourage employees to look out for one another
By reinforcing these habits now, you can help protect your workforce and their loved ones, ensuring everyone celebrates safely and returns ready for work.
Skills Test
Can you carve out 15 minutes for your employees to test their driving skills and knowledge of safety behind the wheel? Then, you’ll want to check out our FREE online Distracted Driving course.
The course, built for busy workplace safety leaders and the teams they support, explores one of the most persistent risks facing today’s workforce on and off the job.
A distraction is anything that takes a driver’s eyes off the road, hands off the wheel or mind off the task of driving safely. In just 15 minutes, this course tackles common questions: Is multitasking a myth? Are hands-free devices really safe? You’ll get clear, practical answers you can apply immediately.
For workplace safety leaders, the course is easy to deliver and track. Our learning management system supports group training delivery, allowing supervisors and managers to assign courses, monitor completions and access reporting tools to measure progress.
Driving demands full attention, yet workers face competing pressures. Research shows employees who drive for work are more likely to feel rushed, think about job tasks, experience fatigue or use a phone while behind the wheel – all factors that increase crash risk. Understanding the three types of distraction – visual, manual and cognitive — helps employers identify hazards and take meaningful action.
Any non-driving activity increases risk. But with the right awareness and tools, employers can reinforce safer habits and reduce incidents.
Make the most of your training time. Equip your workforce with the knowledge to recognize distractions, challenge risky assumptions and keep safety front and center – every mile of every workday.
Get started: Search for Distracted Driving in our course catalog.