<P> Work - related roadway crashes are the leading cause of death from traumatic injuries in the U.S. workplace . They accounted for nearly 12,000 deaths between 1992 and 2000 . Deaths and injuries from these roadway crashes result in increased costs to employers and lost productivity in addition to their toll in human suffering . Truck drivers tend to endure higher fatality rates than workers in other occupations, but concerns about motor vehicle safety in the workplace are not limited to those surrounding the operation of large trucks . Workers outside the motor carrier industry routinely operate company - owned vehicles for deliveries, sales and repair calls, client visits etc . In these instances, the employer providing the vehicle generally plays a major role in setting safety, maintenance, and training policy . As in non-occupational driving, young drivers are especially at risk . In the workplace, 45% of all fatal injuries to workers under age 18 between 1992 and 2000 in the United States resulted from transportation incidents . </P> <P> The terms "active" and "passive" are simple but important terms in the world of automotive safety . "Active safety" is used to refer to technology assisting in the prevention of a crash and "passive safety" to components of the vehicle (primarily airbags, seatbelts and the physical structure of the vehicle) that help to protect occupants during a crash . </P> <P> Crash avoidance systems and devices help the driver--and, increasingly, help the vehicle itself--to avoid a collision . This category includes: </P> <Ul> <Li> The vehicle's headlamps, reflectors, and other lights and signals </Li> <Li> The vehicle's mirrors </Li> <Li> The vehicle's brakes, steering, and suspension systems </Li> </Ul>

3 safety devices that contribute to passenger safety