Submitted by: Thomas Gwinn - Ohio Department of Public Safety - Traffic Statistics / FARS
All LE Agencies:
Section 5502.01 of the Ohio Revised Code requires the Ohio Department of Public Safety to compile, analyze and publish statistics relative to motor vehicle crashes. DPS needs to make the data available for use by law enforcement agencies as well as other constituents. DPS needs the assistance of every law enforcement agency in Ohio that investigates motor vehicle crashes in order to have complete and accurate statistics. All crashes, regardless of injury severity, that were investigated in 2020 and completed in a paper format must be submitted to the Ohio Department of Public Safety by March 12, 2021. We will be unable to process the data from any OH-1’s received after that date.
Please note that on March 31st of each year the Ohio Department of Public Safety closes the crash data file for the previous crash year. Pending crash reports and supplements received on previously submitted reports cannot be entered electronically or entered by ODPS after this date.
If your department cannot submit a crash by the March 12th deadline please contact Thomas Gwinn, 614-752-1585, or via email at tegwinn@dps.ohio.gov
***Also, there may be some confusion on the OH-1. The Ohio Department of Public Safety is required to have the OLN of motorists on the OH-1. The OLN is how the BMV records the crash on the motorists driving record. The Ohio Department of Public Safety does not publicly post the OLN and complies with all laws pertaining to confidentiality.
Thank you!
SPEEDING ENDANGERS EVERYONE ON THE ROAD
Speeding endangers everyone on the road.
In 2017, speeding killed more than 9,700 people accounting for 26% of all traffic fatalities in 2017.
We all know the frustrations of modern life and juggling a busy schedule, but speed limits are put in place to protect all road users. Learn about the dangers of speeding and why faster doesn’t mean safer.
In order to save lives, NHTSA offer two different campaigns:
Obey The Sign or Pay The Fine is a campaign built for law enforcement to raise awareness in the community on the laws regarding speeding.
Stop Speeding Before It Stops Youis a general public awareness campaign about raising awareness of the dangers and consequences of speeding.
NEW SPEED TRAFFIC SAFETY MATERIALS NOW AVAILABLE
The OTSO offers a 64"x36" "Speed Banner" similar to the one in the heading. There are also two (2) Speed Posters available and can be ordered by using the OTSO Traffic Safety Materials Order form that can be found by clicking here.
As Traffic Deaths Spike During COVID-19, New Report Examines Unsettling Trend of Teen Drivers Speeding – and Dying – on America’s Roads
CONTACT: Adam Snider, 202-580-7930 202-365-8971 (after hours)
WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA), in partnership with Ford Motor Company Fund, today released a new report that examines the significant role speeding plays in teen driver fatalities and offers practical tools to help parents rein in this lethal driving habit. The new analysis for GHSA found that from 2015 to 2019, teen drivers and passengers (16-19 years of age) accounted for a greater proportion of speeding-related fatalities (43%) than all other age groups (30%). During this five-year period, 4,930 teen drivers and passengers died in speeding-related crashes.
The report, Teens and Speeding: Breaking the Deadly Cycle, is the first look in recent years at the role speeding plays in teen driver deaths and incorporates recently released data that includes state-by-state statistics. It sheds new light on what we know about speeding-related fatal crashes involving teens –- the driver is more likely to be male, have run off the road or rolled the vehicle, and be unbuckled. The data analysis was conducted by Richard Retting of Sam Schwartz Consulting.
“Speed management continues to be a key component of our training and this report reaffirms its importance,” said Jim Graham, Ford Motor Company Fund Manager. “Teens don’t see speeding as a serious problem and parents likely don’t recognize how rampant it is for novice drivers, so teaching them about the impact is critical.”
On Thursday, Feb. 4, GHSA will host a webinar that takes a closer look at the troubling and persistent problem of speeding teens. GHSA Senior Director of External Engagement and nationally recognized teen safe driving expert Pam Shadel Fischer will share the report findings and discuss key recommendations with a panel of teen safe driving advocates.
Motorcycle Ohio’s training course registration opened on January 25, 2021. The motorcycle training courses are conducted from April until early November. Approximately 12,000 students register each year in Ohio for a motorcycle training course.
Basic Rider Skills (BRS) The BRS is a 16-hour course recommended for novice riders. BRS students must have a valid Temporary Instruction Permit Identification Card (TIPIC) to participate in the course. Motorcycles and helmets are provided. Upon successful completion of this course, the student will earn the BMV skill-test waiver for a motorcycle license or endorsement.
Basic Rider Skills for Returning Riders (BRS-RR) The BRS-RR is an 8-hour course designed for riders 18 years of age or older who have been riding with a temporary permit for longer than one year (over 1,00 miles of experience), or an experienced rider returning after an extended time away from riding. BRS-RR students must have a valid motorcycle TIPIC, license or endorsement to participate in the course. Motorcycles and helmets are provided. Upon successful completion of this course, the student will earn the BMV skill-test waiver for a motorcycle license or endorsement.
Basic Rider Skills 2 (BRS-2) This 7-hour, one-day, range-only course (no formal classroom session) requires a motorcycle TIPIC, license or endorsement. This class is also suitable for newly endorsed/licensed riders. Students will use their own street legal two-wheeled motorcycle and helmet. Upon successful completion of this course, the student will earn the BMV skill-test waiver for a motorcycle license or endorsement. Passengers are permitted in the BRS-2 course with a licensed or endorsed motorcycle rider.
Please visit www.motorcycle.ohio.gov for more information about Motorcycle Ohio’s training courses and locations.
CAREER OPPORTUNITY
IMPAIRED DRIVING DIVISION CHIEF
Submitted by Morgan Drexler - NHTSA Impaired Driving Division
Dear Colleagues,
The NHTSA Office of Impaired Driving and Occupant Protection is seeking a self-motivated and high performing professional to lead an exceptional team of dedicated safety specialists. The Impaired Driving Division Chief serves as principal staff advisor to the Office Director for directing and coordinating the Division’s programmatic activities and policy development associated with impaired driving. The position is located at NHTSA Headquarters in Washington, DC.
NHTSA is dedicated to achieving the highest standards of excellence in motor vehicle and highway safety. The agency strives to exceed the expectations of its customers through its core values of Integrity, Service and Leadership. Save lives, prevent injuries and reduce economic costs due to road traffic crashes, through education, research, safety standards and enforcement activity.
The Impaired Driving Division Chief provides leadership and technical direction within the Office for the planning, development, management and execution of crosscutting program issues and assists the Office Director in the establishment of policy, goals and objectives to prevent or intervene in potential impaired driving situations. This position is also responsible for preparing and presenting annual division budgets and project plans.
Please consider this exciting opportunity and pass it along to others you think may be interested!
The announcement, which closes on Wednesday, February 3rd, is available here.
Best,
Morgan
REMINDER
The 2021 NHTSA Communications Calendar can be found by clicking here.
Did you know that driving after taking any drug, whether the drug is legal, illicit, prescription, or over the counter (OTC), can be impairing?
NETS is pleased to share the latest insightful Drive Safely Work Week® (DSWW) road safety campaign, developed through a cooperative agreement with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), focused on an issue that has become more prevalent in recent years: Drug Impaired Driving at Work.
Drug-impaired driving, also known as drugged driving or driving under the influence of drugs (DUID), has not only become a primary concern for traffic safety professionals but also a major concern for employers. Using the information and materials provided in NETS “Drug-Impaired Driving for Employers” toolkit, employers can take action to educate employees about the dangers of drug-impaired driving, how to detect impairment from drug use, and how to prevent drug-impaired driving in the workplace.
As we continue into a new year within a pandemic environment, the timing could not be better to expand your focus on an area of road safety which can be a challenging issue for many employers.
For maximum impact the toolkit is organized into 5 essential components comprised of the following core elements:
I encourage you to review the drug-impaired driving website and accompanying materials and share throughout your organization.
Super Bowl has become synonymous with drinking and celebrating, making roads on Super Bowl weekend dangerous. Using these materials, you can raise awareness in your community or with your officers to the heightened dangers of drunk driving on Super Bowl weekend.
For marketing materials for the Super Bowl campaign, click here.
These marketing materials should only be used in support of the Super Bowl drunk driving prevention campaign period. Specific requests and questions regarding their use outside of this time period should be directed to Feedback-TSM@dot.gov.
DRUNK DRIVING | BUZZED DRIVING IS DRUNK DRIVING
Saint Patrick's Day
March 17, 2021
Each year, St. Patrick’s Day is celebrated with city parades, funny leprechaun hats, and plenty o’ green beer. Unfortunately, it often ends with risky drunk drivers taking to the streets when the parties end. Drunk driving accounts for nearly one-third of vehicle-related fatalities in the United States.
This St. Patrick’s Day, please remember that Buzzed Driving Is Drunk Driving. If you plan to go out and enjoy the evening with alcohol, make sure you refrain from driving. Review these facts and share the word about the dangers of drunk driving so you can continue merry-making for all the St. Paddy’s Days to come.
Use these marketing tools to reach out to your community about the dangers of drinking and driving on this day. These materials will partner your office with other States, communities, and organizations on this drunk driving prevention initiative:
March 22 - April 12, 2021 / Rail Grade Crossing Campaign
Although accidents at railroad crossings are an old problem, the problem is easily avoidable. This campaign is a focused effort to reverse the uptick in railroad crossing fatalities. Its message is simple: Stop. Trains Can’t.
As a part of our on-going series of training programs, Wellness, Self-Care and Resilience, the Ohio Department of Mental Health & Addition Service3s is hosting a course on Social Media; Benefits and Pitfalls, for First Responders and public safety agencies on Wednesday, February 17, 2021 beginning at 1:00 p.m.
In today's world of 24/7 connection, social media can be a great tool in staying connected to the community but can also lead to unintended issues for an agency, or their personnel. This is a very timely topic for all First Responders.
Submitted by: Shelli Stephens-Stidham - Senior Program Consultant, Safe States Alliance and
Sandy Spavone - Executive Director, Family, Career and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA)
As track leaders for the Lifesavers National Conference on Highway Safety Priorities, we are inviting you to the 2021 conference to be held virtually April 26 – 28. Visit the Lifesavers Conference website at www.lifesaversconference.org to register and view the conference schedule.
Lifesavers is the world’s largest gathering of highway safety leaders and advocates. The 2021 Virtual Conference offers 70 workshops in nine tracks, plenary sessions, peer exchange discussion groups, and an interactive exhibit hall. Critical highway safety topics, including responses to COVID-19 and current social events, will be presented in a virtual environment designed to engage participants in an exchange of ideas, strategies, and solutions.
Vulnerable road users include pedestrians, bicyclists, teens, aging drivers, and motorcyclists. Data for 2018 show that 1,719 young drivers (ages 15-20) were killed in crashes in the U.S. and an estimated 198,000 young drivers were injured in motor vehicle crashes. There was an increase in fatalities of pedestrians (6,283) and bicyclists (857) and an additional 4,985 motorcyclists were killed in motor vehicle traffic crashes. That same year, 6,907 people 65 and older were killed in traffic crashes in the U.S., accounting for roughly 19 percent of all traffic fatalities.
Like you, we are committed to improving these numbers. These past months we have had the pleasure of working with experts and advocates who volunteered their time to create a solution-driven program that shares research and initiatives to help protect our most vulnerable populations. Visit the Lifesavers Conference website’s workshops page (https://lifesaversconference.org/workshops-handouts/) to view workshops being offered this year.
For the past 39 years, Lifesavers has offered exceptional networking and learning opportunities. Join with other dedicated highway safety professionals to virtually share information, best practices, and experiences to reduce preventable injuries and deaths on our nation’s highways and create safer communities.
REGISTRATION NOTE from Mary Lofgren - Meetings Management, Inc.
For the 2021 Virtual LifeSavers Conference, you can register at the $275 rate up until the conference in April. We do ask that folks register by Friday, April 23 so we have time to send the link to the online platform before the conference begins on Monday April 26.
To meet the TSRPs and learn what training is available to law enforcement and prosecutors, click here.
TRAFFIC SAFETY CASE LAW UPDATE FOR 2020 - to view this video click here.
Stay tuned to future issues of TrafficWise as new videos are released.
TRAFFIC SAFETY RESOURCE PROSECUTORS WEBINARS
DRUG RECOGNITION EXPERT PROGRAM
and the
INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF CHIEFS OF POLICE WEBINAR.
February 16, 2020
This session is intended to provide an update on projects related to and affecting the Drug Recognition Expert program that are underway, as well as new offerings to help further Advanced Roadside Impaired Driving Enforcement and DRE training.
Approved for of 1.5 general CLE credit hours by the Supreme Court of Ohio Commission on Continuing Legal Education. To view the compete flyer and registration information, click here.
EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT CANNABIS
FOR PROSECUTORS AND LAW ENFORCEMENT.
March 16, 2021
Pending approval for 1.5 general CLE credit hours by the Supreme Court of Ohio Commission on Continuing Legal Education. To view the complete flyer with registration information, click here.
DUSTED IN HOUSTON: A SPIKE IN PCI DUI CASES
April 13, 2021
The Houston Forensic Science Center (HFSC) conducted a study based on Houston Police DWI cases and found a large increase in driving cases that involved PCP. This presentation will discuss PCP and its effects on the human body and driving in general, and it will further discuss the HFSC study and its findings so that officers and prosecutors can better understand DWI cases involving PCP. The goal of this session will be to enhance an officer's ability to investigate a PCP related DWI case as well as to enhance a prosecutor's ability to properly and effectively prosecute such a case.
Pending approval for 1.5 general CLE credit hours by the Supreme Court of Ohio Commission on Continuing Legal Education. To view the complete flyer and registration information, click here.
THE IMPLICATIONS OF FIELD SOBRIETY TEST EVIDENCE
IN DRUG IMPAIRED DRIVING CASES.
May 4, 2021
This session will provide an overview of field sobriety test evidence as it relates to drug impaired driving cases. Presenters Deena Ryerson, Oregon Traffic Safety Resource Prosecutor, and Ashley Schluck, Wyoming TSRP, will discuss defense challenges in the use of field sobriety test evidence for drug impairment. The session will further cover various court rulings on this issue and how prosecutors and law enforcement officers can prepare to deal with challenges to the admission.
Pending approval for 1.5 general CLE credit hours by the Supreme Court of Ohio Commission on Continuing Legal Education. To view the complete flyer and registration information, click here.
Many training resources are currently available through ODOT’s Local Technical Assistance Program (LTAP) Center, including a variety of free webinars, eLearning courses and publications! Please visit the LTAP Webinars webpage for listings of upcoming sessions.
Click here to visit the LTAP eLearning webpage for details on how to access more than 300 free online courses/modules. Topics include Road Diets, Roadway Departure Countermeasures and many others.
Click here to visit the LTAP Route of Navigation (RON) Educational series, with links to dozens of resource publications for topic categories such as Access Management, Roadway Safety, Signage and Work Zone Safety.
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.
The ARIDE program stresses the importance of the signs and symptoms of the seven drug categories. Officers attending this course will receive an update/refresher of Standardized Field Sobriety Testing (SFSTs) and must successfully pass an SFST proficiency evaluation. This training also promotes interaction with representatives from the state's prosecution community who are encouraged to attend. The instructors for this course are all Ohio DRE certified instructors. Prerequisite: Law enforcement officers must have had training in SFST (previously ADAP). This course is funded through an OTSO/NHTSA grant and is free for sworn Ohio law enforcement officers and prosecutors only. Tuition for out-of-state officers is $250.
Instructor: Ryan Born
To view the upcoming classes and to register, click here.
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.
NHTSA FEBRUARY 2021 IMPAIRED DRIVING UPDATE
Please find the February edition of NHTSA’s Impaired Driving Division Update by clicking here.
In this edition you will find a variety information including; impaired driving prevention campaigns happening for the Super Bowl, more information on investigating trends in risky driving during the first nine months of 2020, funding available for DRE and ARIDE education and more.
We hope you find the Update helpful.
Healthy Wishes,
Morgan
E-mail: morgan.drexler.ctr@dot.gov
Comments Requested on the draft Walk.Bike.Ohio Plan
ODOT is pleased to present a draft of Walk.Bike.Ohio, Ohio’s first statewide plan for active modes of transportation. Active transportation opportunities provide mobility, economic, health, environmental and quality of life benefits to residents. These are critical as demographic and social trends demonstrate an increasing need for healthy, accessible and affordable transportation options.
Walk.Bike.Ohio seeks to advance active transportation in the state by documenting existing conditions, identifying roles and responsibilities of various partners, and outlining critical actions for ODOT to focus on over the next five years. The themes, strategies and action steps in Walk.Bike.Ohio will address the plan’s goals of safety, equity, network connectivity, network utilization, preservation and quality of life. So many of Ohio’s residents depend on walking or bicycling to remain mobile and connected; and so many also are choosing and prioritizing healthy, sustainable lifestyles.
ODOT invites your feedback on this draft plan. Your feedback and comments are essential to ensure Walk.Bike.Ohio outlines the key steps ODOT and its partners should take to improve the safety and comfort of pedestrians and bicyclists throughout the state.
The plan includes:
An introduction to the plan and an overview of the benefits of active transportation
A robust analysis of the current condition of walking and biking in Ohio, examined through the lens of each goal, such as safety
A list of statewide performance measures established for tracking progress on the plan’s goals
An overview of the roles and responsibilities of key partners who plan, design, construct and maintain bicycle and pedestrian networks and support related efforts. These include local governments, regional planning organizations, advocates and nonprofits, and other state and federal agencies.
An action plan that ODOT will help advance over the next five years, in coordination with key partners.
After reviewing the draft, please share your feedback by taking a brief survey at: PublicInput.com/Walk.Bike.Ohio by Friday, February 26.
To receive a printed copy of the plan and survey, or to request specialized communication needs such as translation services, please email statewide.planning@dot.ohio.gov or call 614-466-7410 and provide your name, phone number and mailing address. Comments can also be mailed to:
Walk.Bike.Ohio
ODOT MS 3280
1980 W Broad St,
Columbus, OH 43223
To view the complete Issue 54 of GroundWork, click here.
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.
