TrafficWise - October 21, 2019

Ohio State Highway Patrol sent this bulletin at 10/21/2019 12:26 PM EDT

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October 21, 2019

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

FATAL COMPARISON MAP can be found here.

The Ohio Traffic Safety Office (OTSO) is pleased to announce the awarding of 219 grants to support Ohio's traffic safety efforts for Federal Fiscal Year (FFY) 2020. In FFY 2020 through our federal sponsor, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the OTSO is able to allocate approximately $22,000,000 toward traffic safety efforts.

Each year, as required by our NHTSA, Ohio must submit their Highway Safety Plan for the upcoming Fiscal Year for approval. Following are the Top Priorities and Major Strategies of this plan.

Top Priorities

Ohio has prioritized its problem areas as follows: Impaired Driving, Occupant Protection, Speed, Motorcycles, Youth, Pedestrian, Distracted Driving, Traffic Records and Bicycle. This selection was determined based upon problem identification as it relates to the core measures.

Major Strategies

Impaired Driving

Reducing alcohol impaired driving fatalities to 283 and drugged driving fatal crashes to 363 is a strategy to reducing Ohio’s overall death and injury rates. This will be accomplished through earned media, paid media, alcohol impaired driving enforcement, drug impaired driving enforcement, saturation patrols, and checkpoints.

Occupant Protection

Reducing unbelted fatalities to 344 is a strategy to reduce Ohio’s overall death and injury rates. Increasing seat belt usage will be accomplished through earned media, paid media, high visibility enforcement, and evaluation. Ohio will also continue to fund the Ohio Department of Health (ODH) to coordinate the statewide Occupant Protection Coordinator program that addresses child passenger safety as well as older children and adults through education.

Speed

Reducing speed related fatalities to 249 is a strategy to reduce Ohio’s overall death and injury rates. Selective Traffic Enforcement Program (STEP) grants and the Ohio State Highway Patrol’s Speed focused High Visibility Enforcement Period grant concentrate on speed efforts using local problem identification.

Motorcycles

Reducing motorcycle fatalities to 157 and un-helmeted fatalities to 109 are strategies to reduce Ohio’s overall death and injury rates. Both of these will be accomplished through earned media, paid media, high visibility enforcement, and evaluation.

Youth

Reducing the number of drivers 20 or younger that are involved in fatal crashes to 135 is a strategy to reduce Ohio’s overall death and injury rates. Reducing this number will be accomplished through working with teens statewide through a peer-to-peer program. These peer-to-peer efforts are designed to: increase seat belt use; reduce speeding; reduce impaired driving; reduce distracted driving; reduce underage drinking; and reduce other risky behaviors that contribute to injuries and fatalities.

Pedestrian

Reducing the number of pedestrian fatalities to 119 is a strategy to reduce Ohio’s overall death and injury rates. Since this number is a small percentage of Ohio’s fatality number, this reduction will be accomplished by concentrating efforts at the local level where the highest number of pedestrian fatalities are occurring.

Distracted Driving

Maintaining the number of distracted driving fatal crashes to 40 and reducing the number of distracted driving serious injury crashes to 393 is a strategy to reduce Ohio’s overall death and injury rates. Decreasing this number will be accomplished through earned media, paid media, high visibility enforcement, and evaluation.

Traffic Records

Through the Traffic Records Coordinating Committee (TRCC), several projects have been approved for funding for FFY2020. Existing projects such as Citation Tracking (accurate/timely citation reporting) will continue until the projects are complete. New projects that meet funding requirements are vetted throughout the year.

Bicycle

Reducing the number of bicycle fatalities to 18 is a strategy to reduce Ohio’s overall death and injury rates. Since this number is a small percentage of Ohio’s fatality number, this reduction will be accomplished by concentrating efforts at the local level where the highest number of bicycle fatalities are occurring.

For a map of the Districts, click here.

To view the agenda click here.

Got Something to Say?

Show your support for safety. Submit an idea.

Have something to say to Ohio drivers that could save a life? Submit a safety message to the Ohio Department of Transportation. Watch for the winning submission on Ohio's freeway message boards.

For more information and to submit your suggestion, click here.

NHTSA Launches New OTC/Rx Impaired Driving Prevention Initiative

September 23 - November 17, 2019

Impaired driving is generally associated with alcohol, prescription drug abuse, or illegal drug use. The use of legally obtained prescription or over-the-counter (OTC) medication can also impair driving.

There’s more than one way to drive under the influence.

Many legally obtained - and commonly used - prescription drugs and OTC medications can affect a user’s ability to drive safely. For example, antidepressants, opioids, and sleep aids, and even cold and allergy medicines can cause side effects [e.g. drowsiness, nausea, blurred vision, etc.] which can put drivers at risk.

New social media videos and audio files to help prevent Rx impaired driving are now available. Please share these videos widely through your social media accounts. Additionally, we include sample press releases, draft op eds, and other materials that you can use to help prevent impaired driving in your community.

To view campaign materials, click here.

NATIONAL TEEN DRIVER SAFETY WEEK

October 20 – 26, 2019

This week and every week, parents should have conversations with their teens about the important rules they need to follow to stay safe behind the wheel of a passenger car, truck, or SUV. These rules address the greatest dangers for teen drivers: alcohol, inconsistent or no seat belt use, distracted and drowsy driving, speeding, and number of passengers.

The problem: Too many teens are dying on our roads

Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for teens (15 to 18 years old) in the United States - ahead of all other types of injury, disease, or violence.
There were 1,972 teen drivers of passenger vehicles involved in fatal motor vehicle traffic crashes in 2015. An estimated 99,000 teen passenger vehicle drivers were injured in motor vehicle traffic crashes.

Additional resources available include materials for:

Distracted driving
Teens and seat belt use
Underage drinking prevention
Seat belt safety = tweens (ages 8 - 14)
Rules of the road

To view campaign materials, click here.

HALLOWEEN - October 31, 2019

This Halloween, let’s make happy memories, not tragic nightmares. The only thing scarier than zombies and witches loose on the streets is a drunk driver. This year, NHTSA is teaming up with local officials to help spread the message that Buzzed Driving Is Drunk Driving. Even one alcoholic beverage could be one too many for some drivers. So, if you plan to drive, plan to refrain from alcohol. If you do plan to enjoy some witch’s brew, be sure to arrange a sober ride home in advance. Stay safe on Halloween night, and every night.

Read these scary stats and commit to sober driving:

During the Halloween night (6 p.m. October 31 to 5:59 a.m. November 1) during the years 2013-2017, there were 158 people killed in drunk-driving crashes.
During Halloween night from 2013-2017, 42 percent of those killed were in traffic crashes that involved at least one drunk driver.
During the 2017 Halloween night (6 p.m. October 31 to 5:59 a.m. November 1), there were 11 vehicle occupants and three pedestrians killed in drunk-driving crashes.

To view campaign materials, click here.

Thanksgiving Weekend

Buckle Up - Every Trip. Every Time.

November 28, 2019

Thanksgiving weekend, millions will hit the roads, eager to spend time with family and friends. It’s one of the busiest travel times of the year, and unfortunately more people on the roadways means the potential for more vehicle crashes.

During the 2016 Thanksgiving weekend (6 p.m. Wednesday, November 23, to 5:59 a.m. Monday, November 28), 341 people were killed in motor vehicle crashes nationwide. Tragically, 49 percent of those killed were not buckled up, representing an increase in seat belt use compared to the same weekend in 2015, when 52 percent of those killed in traffic crashes were unrestrained.

Nighttime proved even more deadly, with 55 percent of Thanksgiving weekend crashes occurring at night. Much like drunk driving, these deaths represent needless tragedies for families across America. These deaths could have been completely prevented with the simple click of a seat belt. Research shows that wearing a seat belt is one of the simplest things you can do to stay safe when you’re traveling in a vehicle, especially during busy travel periods like Thanksgiving.

Use these social norming marketing tools, which can be distributed to fit your local needs and objectives. These materials can help partner your office with other States, communities, and organizations on this seat belt safety initiative.

For Thanksgiving Weekend seat belt enforcement (CIOT) campaign material, click here.
For Thanksgiving Weekend campaign material, click here.

We would like to extend an invitation to all the 1^st responders & military/veterans in your agency or organization for the 1^st Responders’ Mental Health and Wellness Conference held on November 7-8, 2019. Hosted by the Franklin County Suicide Prevention Coalition, this training will be at the OCLC Convention Center in Dublin, Ohio. The conference is also endorsed by the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office, Dublin Police Dept., Hilliard Division of Police, OPOTA, Westerville Police Dept., & Whitehall Division of Fire.

Thanks, to the Franklin County Suicide Prevention Coalition, ADAMH Board & Pinnacle-Recovery Works Columbus for making this training possible! If you can’t make Dublin (Columbus), Ohio in November, please consider attending the Orlando, Florida, Conference on February 6-7, or check our website for other locations around the country.

Training credits (14 hrs.) for LE & Fire, certificates will be provided upon request. EMS professionals, CEs provided by Nationwide Children’s Hospital EMS Program, approved by the Ohio Department of Public Safety, Division of EMS. Please share this info with your agency’s training coordinator for internal use, as well as consider sharing the event on your Facebook page.

Follow the link to register: https://1stresponderconferences.org/columbus%2C-oh-conference

Check out the speaker lineup, we have some incredible speakers coming in, networking and resources to share! Each conference has a different line-up of speakers and new resources. You do not want to miss this if you are a 1st responder, military, veteran, health professional, chaplain, corrections, coroner, counselor, or anyone that works within the Public Safety arena with our everyday heroes (Spouses are encouraged to attend)!

Promo video with speakers/class info:

https://www.facebook.com/1stresponderconferences/videos/2485472521673245/?t=0

Shawn Thomas 1st Responder Conferences Founder

King County Sheriff's Office (206) 841-6632

www.1stresponderconferences.org

Please see the Conference Flyer and Basic Info Letter with speaker bios, class descriptions, and additional event details by clicking here.

To view the flyer with speaker and registration information, click here.

NOTE: The November 20, 2019 class at the Ohio State Highway Patrol Academy is full.

PUBLIC SAFETY LEADERSHIP ACADEMY

March 23 through June 5, 2020

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.

Submitted by Lori Johnson - Coordinator Ross County Safe Communities

FOOTBALL FRIDAY NIGHT!! - At the Unioto High School Homecoming football game on Friday October 4, Ross County Safe Communities set up our table to raise awareness of restraint usage and on distracted driving. Our hopes were to get people (especially teen drivers) to sign a pledge to stop texting and driving. In return of the signed pledge card, they were entered to win a signed football that the varsity football team signed. The response has been very positive and encouraging to see so many people taking texting and driving serious. We had both students and adults to sign the pledge cards and our message was very well received.

Another example of creating partnerships within your community. Thank you to the Unioto High School football team.

Submitted by Teresa Carper - Ohio SADD

Ohio SADD, the Westshore Young Leaders, and the Cleveland Cavaliers, welcomes all teens to "SADD Seminar with the Cavs". This annual traffic safety event will be held at the newly renovated Rocket Mortgage Field House in downtown Cleveland on December 3, 2019.

Sign in begins at 2 p.m. and the free educational program begins at 2:30 p.m. Presentation of "Blessed Tragedy," a story of a bad decision that led to tragedy behind the wheel, redemption and forgiveness. Based on the soon to be released book by the same name. Then join in and test your traffic safety knowledge with a fast paced game of Kahoots! Come early and visit the many vendor tables and meet new friends.

Stay for the game with two special ticket prices available. Bus parking available. Contact Teresa Carper at tcarper@sadd.org for more information. See you there!

To view the flyer and registration information, click here.

TRAFFIC SAFETY MATERIALS

NEW COACH RYAN DAY - OSU FOOTBALL - STAY IN THE GAME - BUCKLE UP POSTER NOW AVAILABLE.

REMEMBER the 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.

LAST CALL - SAVE FACE POSTERS

The "Save Face" poster is available from our office until the end of December, at which time we'll be retiring it. This poster comes in two sizes. Either a 12"x18" or 18"x24". They can be ordered using the Material Order form by clicking here. There are plenty of these posters left, so please order any amount you would like and can use.