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.
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.
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.
National Enforcement Mobilization / April 5 - 12, 2021
U Drive. U Text. U Pay. is a campaign centered on aiding law enforcement officers in their efforts to keep distracted drivers off the road. Distracted driving is a first offense in many States and continues to gain recognition across the nation as a deadly problem.
This campaign is targeted to men and women 18 to 34 years old.
Please use these enforcement campaign materials to raise awareness in your community about the consequences of texting while driving. These enforcement materials do not focus on social norming. For social media materials, please go to:
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
EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT CANNABIS
FOR PROSECUTORS AND LAW ENFORCEMENT.
March 16, 2021
Approved 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.
Updated February 11, 2021
Approved 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.
Updated February 11, 2021
Approved 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.
Submitted by: Donna Fox-Moore, Executive Director, Fairfield County Safe Communities
As the pandemic has made it necessary to cancel large events at which education and outreach was previously conducted face-to-face, Fairfield County has developed ways to disseminate key Safe Communities’ messages virtually.
The Fairfield County Safe Communities Coalition produced an impaired driving video to help educate drivers and non-drivers about the importance of driving sober, calling for a designated driver, and to capture their attention by obtaining help from former OSU football players/NFL Football players, local law enforcement and a student who plays football within our county. Each person in the video recorded their part of the video independently. Once the recordings were complete, they then sent the video clips to Safe Communities Coordinator Kirsten Persinger who conducted final edits and combined all clips into one video.
The video was uploaded to Fairfield County Safe Communities Facebook page and YouTube channel during the Impaired Driving Awareness on February 7th – 8th, 2021. Everyone who volunteered in the video are coalition members and/or partners of Fairfield County Safe Communities.
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
REMEMBER the OTSO offers materials for numerous traffic safety campaigns, including impaired driving, restraint usage, distracted driving, speeding 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.
