Big Thumbs Up!
The National Safety Council is honored to recognize 11 workplace safety leaders as recipients of the 2026 Our Driving Concern Texas Employer Traffic Safety awards.
While they were selected in seven different categories based on a panel review of individual applications, they all are linked by at least one common denominator, their commitment to employee education and transportation safety training.
“The roads in Texas are a little bit safer because of the people who have implemented road safety policies and procedures at these organizations,” said Cody Stewart, a senior program manager at NSC and director of the Our Driving Concern program. “We are delighted to call them partners on the Road to Zero – zero crashes, zero injuries, zero fatalities.”
Let’s meet the award recipients:
Distinguished Excellence in Traffic Safety
- Cap Metro: Public transportation leader serving Greater Austin recorded 12 million miles traveled in a single year, zero fatalities
- SNF Oil & Gas: Odessa-based Polymer Chemistry and Technology company participated in NSC Habit Builder program to reinforce driver training
Excellence in Traffic Safety
- City of Arlington: Tracked a 40% decrease in crash claims and a 9% reduction in cost per claim
- City of San Antonio: Used NSC Habit Builder program to supplement driver safety training
- Star Shuttle: San Antonio charter company introduced a new vehicle road testing program for hands-on training, and Starlight Sam, a new safety mascot
Small Employer Distinguished Excellence in Traffic Safety
- Ramon Demolition: Safety leaders at the San Antonio-based company identified at‑risk behaviors through telematics, addressed concerns during weekly team meetings and tracked a 20% year-over-year reduction in crashes
Small Employer Excellence in Traffic Safety
- BASS: After experiencing a string of minor crashes – with no injuries – safety leaders at the BASS corrosion protection facility in Longview traced the root causes to driver fatigue and inconsistent safe-following practices, and took steps to right the course, including making use of in-cab cameras and telematics to monitor driver behavior
Innovation in Traffic Safety Practices
- Prosper Independent School District: Reduced crash incidents 42.5%, due in large part to innovative measures like the Bus Rodeo and Coaching Challenge, all while experiencing rapid growth in the school district
Employee Engagement in Traffic Safety
- REAL, Inc.: Made use of safety spotlights and a centralized observation tracker system to strengthen driver performance and enhance fleet-wide safety
- Rockwall Independent School District: Responded quickly to an uptick in at-fault events with a hands-on safety training initiative that led to a 10% year-over-year reduction in incidents
Safety Metric Excellence
- City of Mount Belvieu: Reduced auto liability claims by more than $140,000 by focusing on communication, safety training and incentive-based employee safety recognition programs
2026 Best Practice Brochure
Learn more about the best safety practices implemented by these 11 award recipients. See what ideas you can build on to take your safety program from good to great! Download and share this brochure.
Class Safety Project
As students return to the classroom, Texas roadways become noticeably busier during morning and afternoon commutes. For workplace safety leaders, this is the perfect time to move beyond awareness and invest in training that helps employees recognize hazards, make safer decisions behind the wheel and protect our most vulnerable road users – children.
The need is real:
- 781 traffic crashes occurred in Texas school zones in 2024, according to the Texas Department of Transportation
- 2 people were killed and 17 others suffered serious injuries
TxDOT also reported:
- 2,480 crashes involving school buses in 2024
- 11 people were killed in bus crashes and 93 others suffered serious injuries
Driver inattention, speeding and failure to yield the right of way were three of the leading crash contributing factors. What can you do to prevent more incidents this year?
- Download printable materials, videos and social media resources from TxDOT to increase safety efforts at your location
Make it a Habit to Prioritize Safety
Sometimes a brief conversation can reinforce life-saving behavior. Consider dedicating 60 seconds of your next safety meeting to discuss the dangers of speeding and distracted driving. Share these featured resources:
- Incentivize distraction-free driving: Take the Just Drive Pledge from the National Safety Council
- Embed this short video on your intranet, safety webpage or social media channels: Beyond the Speed – Driving with Purpose (available in English and Spanish)
Train for Excellence
Awareness is important, but training creates lasting behavioral change.
Take your traffic safety efforts a step further by introducing employees to free educational resources that strengthen their understanding of child passenger safety and school transportation safety.
Recommended Training Resources
- Child Passenger Safety Learning Portal from the National Safety Council (including free online learning about car seats, booster seats and risks involving children in hot cars)
- Child Passenger Safety on School Buses Playlist
These resources help participants understand:
- Crash dynamics and child occupant protection
- Proper use of child restraint systems, including cam wraps
- School bus safety practices and emergency evacuation procedures
The importance of this training extends beyond the workplace. National data shows that there were 976 fatal school-transportation-related crashes during a 10-year period from 2013-2022 and 1,082 fatalities nationwide – an average of 108 deaths annually, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation.
Whether employees are professional drivers, parents, caregivers or daily commuters, these resources provide practical knowledge that can help prevent tragedies and protect young passengers.
Safety Checklist
Back-to-school risks are raised by increased pedestrian activity, school buses, reduced speed limits and changing traffic patterns that demand greater attention behind the wheel. Reinforce your organization’s commitment to the shared responsibility of traffic safety.
Share this safety checklist and encourage employees to be mindful before every trip:
- Obey all posted school-zone speed limits, which may be as low as 15 mph
- Put phones away and eliminate distractions before driving
- Watch for children walking, bicycling or crossing unexpectedly
- Stop for school buses displaying flashing red lights unless a physical median separates opposing traffic
- Yield to pedestrians and follow crossing guard instructions
- Allow extra travel time during peak school travel periods
- Scan intersections and crosswalks carefully before proceeding
- Stay alert for changing traffic patterns around schools and bus stops
Extend Safety Beyond the Workplace
You can also support safer communities by:
- Partnering with local schools or parent groups to host traffic safety workshops
- Sponsoring crossing guards or donating reflective safety gear for students
Lead by Example
The safest workplaces recognize that driving habits do not stop at the company gate. Employees often carry safety behaviors home from work, influencing family members, friends and others in the community.
This school year, challenge your team to train for excellence, stay alert and model safe driving behaviors every day. By combining timely reminders, practical training and community engagement, employers can help make Texas roads safer for everyone, especially the children who depend on us to protect them.
