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July 15, 2019

FATAL CRASHES 2019 YEAR TO DATE MAP can be found here.

FATAL COMPARISON MAP can be found here.

The second report, Social Media Practices in Traffic Safety, combines a scan of publicly available SHSO social media channels with information collected from interviews with NHTSA Regional Offices and a sample of SHSOs. It includes promising practices to help inform planning and decision making for the different platforms, examples of messages with high engagement rates, and some real world case studies.Click to edit this placeholder text.

What is the Move Over Law?

Ohio's Move Over Law is designed to protect the lives of everyone who works on or uses our roadways. The law requires all drivers to move over one lane passing by any vehicle with flashing or rotating lights parked on the roadside.

The original law took effect in 1999 to reduce risk to law-enforcement officers and emergency responders. It was expanded in December 2013 to apply to every stationary vehicle with flashing lights, including road construction, maintenance and utility crews.

What if I can't move over?

The law recognizes that sometimes it is not safe or possible to move over because of traffic or weather conditions or because a second lane does not exist. In those situations, slow down and proceed with caution. Watch for people or objects that could enter your travel lane, and be prepared to stop.

How does the Move Over law differ from yielding the right of way to emergency vehicles?

Yielding the right of way to an emergency responder requires you as a driver to pull to the right-hand side of the road and stop when a law-enforcement officer, fire truck, ambulance or other emergency vehicle approaches using a siren, lights, or other warning devices. You must wait until the emergency responder(s) has passed by before you can resume driving.

How serious is the problem?

Across the nation, hundreds of people are killed or injured every year when they're struck by a vehicle after pulling over to the side of the road or highway. On average, these "struck-by" crashes kill one tow-truck driver every six days; 23 highway workers and one law-enforcement officer every month; and five firefighters every year. Tragically, stranded motorists are also struck and killed.

Can I be cited for failing to comply with the Move Over law?

Yes, and the issue is so serious that fines are doubled. Violators are fined 2 x $150 for the first violation (a minor misdemeanor), 2 x $250 for the same violation within a year of the first, and 2 x $500 for more than two violations in a year.

What types of roadways does the law apply to?

Ohio’s Move Over law applies to all interstates and state highways. It can be enforced by any law-enforcement officer, including state highway patrol officers, local police, and county sheriff's deputies.

For more information on Ohio's Move Over Law and information from our partners with the Ohio Department of Transportation, click here.

CHANGES TO THE TRAFFIC SAFETY MATERIALS FORM

With the "Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over" National Mobilization focusing on impaired driving starting soon, materials are available free to your agency or coalition to assist in increasing public awareness on this and other issues. In our updated Traffic Safety Materials form, you'll find that we have added a "Drunk Driving, Over the Limit Under Arrest" banner (as seen above).  These banners are 3'x6' and are available now. To view the new Traffic Safety Materials form click here.

2019 DRIVE SOBER OR GET PULLED OVER

AUGUST 16 – SEPTEMBER 2, 2019

Fact Sheet

The U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is joining forces with law enforcement nationwide during the 2019 Labor Day Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over high-visibility enforcement campaign, which runs from August 14 through September 2, 2019.  (Enforcement from August 16 - September 2)  The enforcement campaign coincides with the 2019 Labor Day holiday weekend, which is one of the deadliest times of the year in terms of drunk-driving fatalities. With NHTSA’s support, state and local law enforcement agencies across the nation are stepping-up enforcement to put an end to drunk driving, showing zero tolerance to save lives.

Sobering Statistics

• Approximately one-third of all traffic crash fatalities in the United States involve drunk drivers (with blood alcohol concentrations [BACs] of .08 of higher). In 2017, there were 10,874 people killed in drunk-driving crashes. To put it in perspective, that’s equal to about 20 jumbo jets crashing, with no survivors.
• It is illegal to drive with a BAC of .08 or higher in all 50 states and the District of Columbia—no exceptions.
• Of the traffic fatalities in 2017 among children 14 and younger, 19 percent occurred in alcohol-impaired-driving crashes.
• Despite the fact that it’s illegal to drive with a BAC of .08 or higher, in 2017 one person was killed every 48 minutes by a drunk driver on our nation’s roads.
• Men are more likely than women to be driving drunk in fatal crashes. In 2017, 21 percent of males were drunk in these crashes, compared to 14 percent of females.
• In 2017, motorcycle riders involved (killed and survived) in fatal crashes had higher percentages of alcohol impairment than any other type of motor vehicle driver (27% for motorcycle riders, 21% for passenger cars, 20% for light-truck drivers, and 3% for drivers of large trucks).
• Drug-impaired driving is an increasing problem on our nation’s roads. It is illegal to drive while impaired by drugs, period. It’s essential for drivers to understand: If You Feel Different, You Drive Different. Drive High, Get a DUI. Driving while impaired by any substance is deadly and illegal.

Labor Day Statistics

• During the 2017 Labor Day holiday period (6 p.m. September 1 – 5:59 a.m. September 5), 36 percent of fatalities in traffic crashes involved a drunk driver.
• During the 2017 Labor Day holiday period (6 p.m. September 1 – 5:59 a.m. September 5), there were 376 crash fatalities nationwide. Forty-four percent of those fatalities involved drivers who had been drinking (.01+ BAC). More than one-third (36%) of the fatalities involved drivers who were drunk (.08+ BAC), and more than one-fourth (26%) involved drivers who were driving with a BAC almost twice the legal limit (.15+ BAC).
• In fatal crashes during the month of August over the five-year period of 2013-2017, almost 10% of the drunk drivers involved, with a BAC of .08 or higher, had one or more previous convictions for drunk driving.
• Among drivers between the ages of 18 and 34 who were killed in crashes over the Labor Day holiday period in 2017 (6 p.m. September 1 – 5:59 a.m. September 5), 42 percent of those drivers were drunk, with BACs of .08 or higher.

Financial Impacts

• On average, a DUI can set you back $10,000 in attorney’s fees, fines, court costs, lost time at work, higher insurance rates, car towing and repairs, and more.
• The financial impact from impaired-driving crashes is devastating. Based on 2010 numbers (the most recent year for which cost data is available), impaired-driving crashes cost the United States $44 billion annually.
• If you’re caught drinking and driving, you could face jail time. Imagine trying to explain that to your friends and family or your place of employment.
• Drinking and driving could cause you to lose your driver’s license and your vehicle. This could inhibit you from getting to work, resulting in lost wages and, potentially, job loss.

To view the campaign materials click here.

Note: campaign materials included in this mobilization are:

• Drive High - Get a DUI.

• Peak Enforcement Kit.

• Ride Sober or Get Pulled Over (Motorcyclist)

This summer, AAA and ODOT are scheduling events across Ohio to engage seniors in a discussion about safe driving.

This issue is important because Ohioans are aging, and as we age, it affects our ability to drive. Ohio has the 6^th largest population of older adults in the country – and their numbers will continue to grow each year. Last year, 23% of all traffic deaths involved a driver age 65 or older. 

Below are three ways you can get involved:

1. Presentations – AAA and ODOT can tailor older driver safety and information to the needs of your community forum or event.
2. CarFit Technician Training - AAA staff are holding CarFit Technician Training throughout the summer.   The training will teach you how to engage seniors in a discussion about driver safety while walking them through an evaluation that includes seat belt, steering wheel, seat and mirror positions. Becoming a CarFit Technician also gives you the ability to work with AAA in hosting CarFit events in your community.  The next training is scheduled for Monday, July 22, from 9am-1pm, at the St Clairsville Mall. To register for this training, contact Kimberly Schwind, AAA Ohio, 614-431-7896, kschwind@aaaohio.com
3. Host a CarFit event in your community

If you’d like to work with AAA and ODOT, please contact Caraline Griffith at ODOT (Caraline.Griffith@dot.ohio.gov, 614-644-8336). She will work with you and the AAA representatives in your region of the state to explore dates and options.   

TWO FREE TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES AVAILABLE

Summit County Sheriff's Office Training Bureau

2825 Greensburg Road, North Canton, Ohio 44720

Wednesday, August 28, 2019, 8:45 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.

or

Summit Park - North Tower Room

4335 Glendale-Milford Drive., Blue Ash, Ohio 45242

Friday, August 30, 2019, 8:45 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.

The goal of this course is to enable prosecutors and toxicologists to prepare together to effectively communicate and introduce toxicology evidence in impaired driving cases. The course includes an overview of the lifecycle of toxicology sample, describing lab testing procedures, different types of testing, and quality control and assurance; the roles of the prosecutor, toxicologist and law enforcement, the language of the profession, language pitfalls, and translating technical language into layman’s terms; discusses courtroom preparation documents, pretrial motions, questions to ask and what to expect, and proper courtroom procedures; and describes common defense tactics, methods of timing and appropriate objections, methods to anticipate defenses, use and misuse of publications, and identifying prior transcripts to impeach. This course has been approved by the Supreme Court of Ohio Commission on Continuing Legal Education for 6.25 total CLE hours instruction. The course is funded by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and is free to participants.

REGISTRATION:   Email Robert Wakefield at rwake@dps.ohio.gov by August 5, 2019.

PLEASE DO NOT DELAY…. WE ANTICIPATE A GOOD RESPONSE TO BOTH SESSIONS. SPACE IS LIMITED TO 30 FOR EACH SESSION.

Please contact Holly Reese, Traffic Safety Resource Prosecutor at hreesetsrp@ gmail.com or (330)904-8971 with any questions.

PUBLIC SAFETY LEADERSHIP ACADEMY

March 23 through June 5, 2020

The Ohio State Highway Patrol has partnered with The Ohio State University – John Glenn College of Public Affairs to offer innovative training, titled, the "Public Safety Leadership Academy," to qualified police executives at the Highway Patrol Training Academy on March 23, through June 5, 2020.

The course which will focus on:

• Developing leadership and management skills;
• Understanding leadership styles through self-assessments;
• Sharpening problem solving and planning skills;
• Improving communication skills, including verbal and non-verbal communication in one-on-one and group settings, formal presentations and written communication;
• Developing conceptual and research skills;
• Developing and improving the knowledge and skills necessary to manage and direct any division within a law enforcement agency.

The course curriculum will be divided into the following units, Leadership, Interpersonal, and Organizational Communication, Fundamentals of Public Management, Organizational Culture and Ethics, Human Resource Management, Budgeting, Organizational Behavior in Law Enforcement. In addition, students will be required to complete a capstone project that focuses on real-life cases.

During the course, the Patrol will host enrichment seminars. These executive level development seminars will provide students with additional education and training in law enforcement that are relevant in today’s society. Distinguished speakers from the government and private sector will present a variety of different subjects, including: leadership lessons learned while under adverse conditions, inspiration and courage, and stress management.

For additional instruction focusing on leadership, students will visit Washington D.C. during the month of May. There students will attend the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum law enforcement course and visit other important sites that have helped shape our Nation’s leaders.

Upon successful completion of the course, students will receive 10 semester hours of academic credit, along with a certificate in Senior Leadership through The Ohio State University – John Glenn School of Public Affairs. Grad credits may be offered, pending OSU graduate school approval.

Your agency is invited to nominate an executive officer to attend this course. The following materials; the course application form, and course nomination form, need to be submitted to Tanya Benner by January 3, 2020, at 

Your agency is invited to nominate an executive officer to attend this course. The following materials; the course application form, and course nomination form, need to be submitted to Tanya Benner by January 3, 2020, at tbenner@dps.ohio.gov. The forms can be found on the Patrol’s Training website at https://www.statepatrol.ohio.gov/training-psla.aspx.

Please direct questions and/or concerns to Tanya Benner at 614 752 4152.

Drug Recognition Expert Program   The Drug Recognition Expert (DRE) Program is a traffic safety program that focuses on the detection, apprehension and adjudication of drug-impaired drivers. A DRE is a law enforcement officer highly trained to recognize impairment in drivers under the influence of drugs other than or in addition to alcohol.  For more information, upcoming training dates and how to apply for this free training, please view the DRE Application, School Information and upcoming classes by clicking here.

Advanced Roadside Impaired Driving Enforcement (ARIDE)   ARIDE Classes are being offered free of charge through the Ohio Peace Officer Training Academy   Advanced Roadside Impaired Driving Enforcement (ARIDE) provides officers with general knowledge related to drug impaired driving and to promote the use of Drug Recognition Experts (DRE). Law enforcement officers will learn to observe, identify and articulate the signs of impairment related to drugs, alcohol, or a combination of both, in order to reduce the number of impaired driving crashes.    For upcoming classes and how to register click here.

The following is from the Governors Highway Safety Association - April 2018

WHY PARTNER?

In 2016, 37,451 people were killed and millions more were injured in crashes on U.S. roadways. The numbers may seem daunting, but the historical trend actually is promising, as annual fatalities today are down by more than 17,000 since the early 1970s.

This steady decline in fatalities can be traced directly to a comprehensive federal highway safety act that initiated a partnership with the 50 states, the District of Columbia (DC), Indian Nations and U.S. territories. This unity of approach counteracted the nation’s serious fatal crash problem through a balance of enforcement, education, engineering, and emergency medical services (EMS), and resulted in a consistent, community-based approach where states are free to coordinate and share resources with partner agencies, organizations and other groups locally.

These public-private highway safety partnerships are critical for reaching key constituencies and reducing serious crashes and fatalities. Annual highway fatalities have declined significantly, but even more telling, the rate of fatalities per 100,000 vehicle miles traveled has declined by nearly 80 percent, even as annual mileage driven by Americans has topped more than 3.2 trillion since the early 1970s.

The growth in traffic and the decline in fatality rates generally reflect vastly improved safety exposure on U.S. roadways in the 21st century. Despite the safety gains, however, key problems (drunk driving, speeding, failure to buckle up) persist while new challenges emerge (mobile phone distraction, drug-impaired driving). Today, the definitive long-term highway safety goal for federal, state and local partners is straightforward: zero fatalities and injuries due to roadway crashes.

Clearly, states are on the right track, but to achieve zero fatalities and injuries, the effort and the partnerships that drive this work must be sustained and new, creative partnerships fostered.

To view the complete Guide from GHSA, click here.

TRAFFIC SAFETY MATERIALS

OTSO offers materials for numerous traffic safety campaigns, including impaired driving, restraint usage, distracted driving, and motorcycles. Utilizing the numerous materials found here can make an impact that will reach beyond your community. By raising public awareness YOU can help save lives.  The order form can be found by clicking here.

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