For more than two decades, speeding has been involved in approximately one-third of all motor vehicle fatalities. In 2017, speeding was a contributing factor in 26% of all traffic fatalities.
Speed also affects your safety even when you are driving at the speed limit but too fast for road conditions, such as during bad weather, when a road is under repair, or in an area at night that isn’t well lit.
Speeding endangers not only the life of the speeder, but all of the people on the road around them, including law enforcement officers. It is a problem we all need to help solve. NHTSA provides guides and toolkits to help spread the message about safe driving, including tips on what you can do if you encounter an aggressive driver on the road.
Consequences
Speeding is more than just breaking the law. The consequences are far-ranging:
Greater potential for loss of vehicle control;
Reduced effectiveness of occupant protection equipment;
Increased stopping distance after the driver perceives a danger;
Increased degree of crash severity leading to more severe injuries;
Economic implications of a speed-related crash; and
Speeding is a type of aggressive driving behavior. Several factors have contributed to an overall rise in aggressive driving:
Traffic
Traffic congestion is one of the most frequently mentioned contributing factors to aggressive driving, such as speeding. Drivers may respond by using aggressive driving behaviors, including speeding, changing lanes frequently, or becoming angry at anyone who they believe impedes their progress.
Running Late
Some people drive aggressively because they have too much to do and are “running late” for work, school, their next meeting, lesson, soccer game, or other appointment.
Anonymity
A motor vehicle insulates the driver from the world. Shielded from the outside environment, a driver can develop a sense of detachment, as if an observer of their surroundings, rather than a participant. This can lead to some people feeling less constrained in their behavior when they cannot be seen by others and/or when it is unlikely that they will ever again see those who witness their behavior.
Disregard for Others and For the Law
Most motorists rarely drive aggressively, and some never do. For others, episodes of aggressive driving are frequent, and for a small proportion of motorists it is their usual driving behavior. Occasional episodes of aggressive driving–such as speeding and changing lanes abruptly–might occur in response to specific situations, like when the driver is late for an important appointment, but is not the driver’s normal behavior.
If it seems that there are more cases of rude and outrageous behavior on the road now than in the past, the observation is correct—if for no other reason than there are more drivers driving more miles on the same roads than ever before.
Dealing with Speeding and Aggressive Drivers
Speeding behavior and aggressive drivers may not only affect the speeder—it can also affect other drivers, pedestrians, and bicyclists. Here are some tips for encountering speeders on the road:
If you are in the left lane and someone wants to pass, move over and let them by.
Give speeding drivers plenty of space. Speeding drivers may lose control of their vehicle more easily.
Adjust your driving accordingly. Speeding is tied to aggressive driving. If a speeding driver is tailgating you or trying to engage you in risky driving, use judgment to safely steer your vehicle out of the way.
Call the police if you believe a driver is following you or harassing you.
SPECIAL NOTICE TO ALL OTSO GRANTEES
March 15, 2021
Subject: COVID-19 Directives for Ohio Traffic Safety Office Grantees
A year has passed since Ohio Governor Mike DeWine issued the executive order declaring the COVID-19 state emergency. As Governor DeWine is easing restrictions and under the recommendations provided by the Ohio Department of Health, in-person events, meetings and seminars are authorized under the OTSO grants as long as all state and local health department guidelines are followed.
Any questions regarding the above directive, please contact your assigned Planner.
BREATH PERMIT RENEWAL CONTINGENCY PLAN - COVID-19 UPDATE 02/26/2021
To:
Breath Alcohol Testing Operators and Senior Operators
From:
Jeanna Walock, Program Administrator Alcohol and Drug Testing Program
Date:
February 26, 2021
Breath Permit Renewal Contingency Plan - COVID-19 Updated 02/26/2021
Due to the COVID-19 outbreak, the Alcohol and Drug Testing Program will temporarily suspend training classes and in-person Breath Test Operator and Senior Operator permit renewal testing.
For Breath Test Operators and Senior Operators who have a permit with an expiration date prior to July 1, 2021 AND who have not completed a renewal test, click here and follow the instructions to apply for renewal.
BAC Datamaster Proficiency Test form can be found by clicking here.
Intoxilyzer 5000 Proficiency Test form can be found by clicking here.
If you have any questions, contact the Alcohol and Drug Testing Program at BADT@odh.ohio.gov or call (614) 644-4609. We will communicate in the future when we are again able to conduct training classes and in-person renewal testing.
If your I-8000 card expired on 12/31/2020 and you have not completed a renewal test, please contact the above email address with your contact info and 'I-8000 renewal request' in the subject line. ADT staff will contact you to determine a time to conduct renewal testing.
REMINDER
The 2021 NHTSA Communications Calendar can be found by clicking here.
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.
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:
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 Available Training webpage for additional information.
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.
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.
TRAFFIC SAFETY RESOURCE PROSECUTORS
VIDEO TRAINING SERIES
PREVIOUS VIDEOS
TO MEET THE TSRP'S AND LEARN WHAT TRAINING IS AVAILABLETO LAW ENFORMCEMENT AND PROSECUTORS, click here.
TRAFFIC SAFETY CASE LAW UPDATE FOR 2020 - to view this video click here.
OHIO INTOXILYZER 8000 FOR PROSECUTORS - to view 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.
JUNE 2021 TRAFFIC TUESDAY WEBINAR
USING THE BODY WORN CAMERA TO YOUR ADVANTAGE
DURING THE DRUG INFLUENCE EVALUATTION
Date: Tuesday, June 22, 2021
Time: 2:00p-3:30p Eastern
Presenter: Lt. Allan Kolak – Cape Coral (FL) Police Department
Description: This session will discuss the benefits of wearing a body worn camera system and explain how to use it to your advantage in a DUI case involving a Drug Recognition Expert Evaluation. In addition to the technical aspects of the body worn camera system, attendees will learn proper camera positioning, lighting, and audio applications when conducting a Drug Influence Evaluation and how to best preserve the Drug Influence Evaluation on video for court presentation. Furthermore, this session will explain to both prosecutors and law enforcement how to use such video evidence to enhance courtroom presentation during a DUI case involving a DRE Evaluation. As this session provides a discussion on what to do and what not to do while using a body worn camera system, attendees will learn how video can help to not only enhance case presentation but also to promote professionalism by accurately documenting the activities that occur throughout the entire DUI investigation.
These webinars are being conducted by the Florida TSRP Program and the National TSRP Program utilizing the National TSRP Program webinar account. The account is funded through the NAPC/NHTSA Cooperative Agreement, Project Number 693JJ92050011.
This activity has been approved by the Supreme Court of Ohio Commission on Continuing Legal Education for 1.5 general CLE credit hours for prosecutors. There is a twenty-four (24) hour limitation on Live Interactive Webinars (Gov. Bar R. X, Sec. 5 (E)(2)).
The webinar is FREE to participants. Upon completing the webinar, each attendee must email his/ her Ohio bar number to hreesetsrp@gmail.com as certification of attendance, and she will submit them to the Ohio Supreme Court.
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.
Ohio Safe Communities
Ohio Safe Communities is a data-driven initiative to save lives and reduce injuries through collaboration among state, county and local partners. In FFY 2021 there are 45 countywide community-based programs. Each program has five primary goals:
Increasing seat belt usage
Increasing seat belt and impaired driving awareness
Increasing motorcycle safety awareness
Coalition building
Fatal data review
Click HERE to download Ohio Safe Communities contact information.
March 2021
Dear Colleagues,
Please find attached the March 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 St. Patrick’s Day, judicial training available, funding for DRE and ARIDE education and more.
We hope you find the Update helpful.
Healthy Wishes,
Morgan
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.
