Arlington One of 15 Cities Recognized with 2024 Our Driving Concern Texas Employer Traffic Safety Award

By Office of Communications

Posted on October 30, 2024, October 30, 2024

The City of Arlington was once again recognized for its efforts to make its employees, residents and visitors safer when traveling through The American Dream City.

Arlington, one of 15 recipients statewide, received the 2024 Our Driving Concern Texas Employer Traffic Safety Program Award by the National Safety Council and the Texas Department of Transportation. 

Traffic fatalities in Texas decreased by 2.8% in 2023, according to the Texas Department of Transportation. Still, one person was injured in a crash every two minutes and six seconds, and one reportable crash occurred every 56 seconds.

“We’re proud to call these Texas employers safety leaders and partners on the Road to Zero,” said Katie Mueller, the National Safety Council’s senior program manager leading the Our Driving Concern program. “That’s zero crashes, zero injuries and zero fatalities – our ultimate goal. They have implemented evidence-based policies and comprehensive workplace safety programs. They’re saving money and saving lives. They’re proof that road safety is good for business and good for people.”

 The City of Arlington is committed to enhancing road safety by reducing car accidents and property damage, ultimately striving to eliminate all fatal crashes within the city. Achieving this goal requires focused strategic planning, strong leadership, and intentional collaboration among city departments and stakeholders. In order to successfully implement our safety initiatives, we must enhance our infrastructure and situational awareness.

 In anticipation for the large number of attendees at World Series and World Series Victory Parade, the City created a new Traffic Management Center (TMC). With the help of new software technology, traffic engineers were able to keep traffic moving in and around the Entertainment District. With 313 signals in the city, about 60% of them are connected to the new software with live camera that feeds into TMC. This allowed engineers to adjust the timing of traffic signals and watch for accidents and stalled vehicles. The Police Department monitored public safety from their security camera. These efforts allowed better coordination with the City's fire and police personnel, and TxDOT traffic management officials to coordinate incident management. With the addition of TMC, enhanced software, and strong interdepartmental collaboration our visitors can quickly and safely access the Entertainment District.

 The City also participated in National Safety Month. Global emails to all employees with links to Cornerstone on Demand training opportunities and NSC resources were readily available. If an employee is involved in an auto accident (at fault or not) they are automatically assigned “Driving Safety: The Basics.”  

Embracing a culture of sustainability requires commitment throughout the organization. This year the City invested in our fleet tracking software and added additional dash cams. By upgrading our fleet tracking system, we are able to capture real-time visibility across our assets, vehicles, heavy equipment, and unpowered equipment. The technology enables proactive coaching to reduce the risk in real-time and ensure employee and citizen safety inside the vehicle and on the road.

Additionally, the City launched the Entry Level Driver Training (ELDT) Program. Since May 2022, 69 employees have participated in the 30-hour theory class. 51 have completed the minimum 5 hours of closed behind-the-wheel driving and 15 hours of behind-the-wheel open course training. In 2023, of those 69 new CLP/CLD holders, none have been involved in an accident involving their City vehicle. In addition, those departments have seen a 50% reduction in accidents involving City vehicles since 2022. As part of the open road course training, the ELDT students are paired with experienced employees who have had their CDL for a minimum of two years. As our employees assume mentoring roles, there is a noticeable increase in their awareness and adherence to safety practices.

These are just a few examples of the robust programs that focus on prevention of accidents for all drivers, with a focus on eliminating all fatal car crashes within the City, reducing property damage, protecting the safety of citizens, employees, and assets of the City.