Submitted by the Governors Highway Safety Association
Directions in Highway Safety – Winter 2021 Issue
After months of negotiations, Congress reached an agreement on November 6 that resulted in the passage of a $500 billion transportation reauthorization bill, the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA). With traffic fatalities increasing to historic highs, GHSA is excited for the new safety investment and the program reforms included in the bill.
Congress reauthorized federal transportation programs for the next five years (Federal Fiscal Years 2022-2026). The bill immediately provides resources to combat leading highway safety threats such as speeding, impaired driving and not buckling up. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s (NHTSA) current State and Community Highway Safety Grant Program (Section 402) and National Priority Safety Program (Section 405) will increase approximately 5% beginning in FFY 2022 and that will continue throughout the authorization period.
Over the past three years, GHSA steadfastly engaged with partners and Congress to advocate for a range of federal safety policy changes. Most of the changes for NHTSA’s grants will take effect beginning with the FFY 2024 Highway Safety Plan (HSP). One eagerly awaited change is moving from an annual highway safety planning cycle to a triennial one. As a result, state HSPs will detail how many federal grant funds will be used over a three-year period to address critical safety problems. States will submit smaller annual applications to NHTSA with specific grant and project information in years two and three.
Within the Section 405 program, Congress eliminated the Graduated Driver Licensing grant (405(g)), which has never been awarded to any state. Congress used those monies to create two new grants – one funds programs to prevent roadside deaths (405(h)) and the other (405(i)) funds programs to train police officers and drivers on traffic stop procedures. Throughout the Section 405 programs, Congress increased grant eligibility and expanded how funds can be spent on safety efforts, notably to better address multi-substance impaired driving, distracted driving, nonmotorized safety and traffic records programs.
The bill also takes steps toward achieving greater equity in highway safety. States will increase public participation and community collaboration in highway safety planning, especially for traffic enforcement efforts. Congress also increased funding and made reforms to increase state eligibility for the Section 1906 Grant Program to Prohibit Racial Profiling, which supports traffic stop data collection and analysis.
The IIJA creates novel competitive federal grant opportunities, including new, separate state grants for crash data modernization and vehicle recall awareness programs. Congress also created the Safe Streets and Roads for All Grant Program, which will provide $1.2 billion per year in competitive grants for local communities to implement Vision Zero programs.
Finally, Congress integrated into the bill the HALT/RIDE Act, which directs NHTSA to issue a new rulemaking to require passive impairment detection technology as standard equipment in passenger vehicles. The safety community expects this technology to revolutionize the prevention of impaired driving. This provision follows on the heels of other NHTSA safety rulemaking mandates that include back seat safety reminders, keyless ignitions, pedestrian safety and advanced driver assistance features.
The changes described here are only the highlights. The reauthorization bill includes many additional policy details that will improve road safety. GHSA and our safety partners will now collaborate with U.S. DOT and NHTSA to implement the reauthorization bill and begin the next chapter in highway safety.
KNOWLEDGE IS A FINGERTAP AWAY
Submitted by: Thomas E. Gwinn, Ohio Department of Public Safety - Traffic Statistics / FARS
NEW
Fingertap.com contains both Ohio Crash Manual and Easy Street Draw content. On Apple, we have now released the Fingertap DLS app. On Android it is called Fingertap.
Fingertap is a distributed learning and reference application suite that is used by Ohio to provide quick-to-use information on traffic crash reporting. Fingertap contains the full training and reference content for Ohio Traffic Crash reporting, and for the Easy Street Draw diagramming tool. With this content, officers can swiftly gain assistance on any traffic crash topic by visually drilling down to the specific item wanted. In addition, the content can be used as a training package, read e-book style, or searched by topic.
Fingertap can be found at Fingertap.com, as the Android app "Fingertap", and as the Apple app "Fingertap DLS".
Dear Colleagues,
Please find the Winter 2021 edition of NHTSA’s Impaired Driving Division Update. by clicking here.
In this edition we share information about the Drive Sober Holiday Kickoff held on Tuesday, December 14, 2021, a rundown of the Division’s projects that were recently completed and more that have just begun, and links to the new Traffic Techs that accompany the 10th edition of Countermeasures That Work.
We hope you find the Update helpful. Please feel free to reach out with any questions.
We wish you and your family a happy and safe transition to 2022!
Devin Burke - U.S, Department of Transportation - NHTSA
Super Bowl LVI / Feb. 13, 2022 (Sunday)
Each year, the Super Bowl garners millions of viewers, with many taking the opportunity to cheer on their favored team with a night out or by attending a party. To help keep us all safe on the roads, NHTSA is teaming up with State and local highway traffic safety advocates and organizations to remind football enthusiasts that: Fans Don’t Let Fans Drive Drunk.
This year, the Big Game falls on February 13, 2022. If your night involves alcohol outside your home, plan for a sober ride home. If you’re hosting a party, take care of your guests. Keep reading for tips on how to stay safe on Super Bowl Sunday.
Click here to view campaign materials for Super Bowl LVI.
LAW ENFORCEMENT WELLNESS
The Office of Law Enforcement Recruitment would like to invite you to a session that aims to provide insights on the importance of law enforcement wellness and how to mitigate life’s stressors on and off duty. During this webinar, we will discuss realistic, yet unorthodox, approaches to combat the effects of chronic stress and trauma on the mind and body. These tactics can also be utilized to improve focus, mental clarity, and emotional regulation. By improving the wellness of law enforcement, not only do we enhance the service provided and the quality of life for officers; the efforts transcend into the community to elevate healing on a broader scale.
Presenter Amanda Dozanti is currently a Law Enforcement Wellness Specialist with the Hope Meadows Foundation.
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 28, through June 10, 2022.
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; and
Developing and improving the knowledge and skills necessary to manage and direct any division within a law enforcement agency.
The program is designed so that participants will be able to develop and improve the skills necessary to manage and direct any division within a law enforcement agency. This year's class will get a head start on applying those skills by producing a capstone project that will address a current need in their agency.
Students who successfully complete the program will receive 10 graduate or undergraduate semester hours of academic credit through The Ohio State University - John Glenn College of Public Affairs.
Specific requirements and entry into the graduate or undergraduate degree programs depends on the student's academic experience.
For additional instruction focusing on leadership, students will visit Washington D.C. during National Police Week.
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 February 28, 2022, at tbenner@dps.ohio.gov. The forms can be found on the Patrol’s Training website at https://www.statepatrol.ohio.gov/training.aspx#gsc.tab=0
TRAFFIC SAFETY RESOURCE PROSECUTORS VIDEO TRAINING SERIES
RECENT VIDEO
COMBATING ALCOHOL AND DRUG - IMPAIRED DRIVING (IIHS), to view this video click here.
PREVIOUS VIDEOS
TO MEET THE TSRP'S AND LEARN WHAT TRAINING IS AVAILABLE TO 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.
WEBINAR SERIES
JANUARY 2022 TRAFFIC TUESDAY WEBINAR
“Moving on from Xanax: Impaired Driving with Novel Benzodiazepines”Tuesday, Jan. 11, 2022, at 2 p.m. (eastern).
This presentation will discuss the challenges with toxicology testing for novel benzodiazepines and the impairment they may produce. Benzodiazepines are a class of compounds that include prescription drugs used to treat anxiety, control seizures, and cause general sedation. They are frequently identified in impaired driving cases, most often in combination with other drugs. Recently, novel designer benzodiazepines have been identified in counterfeit Xanax tablets in a significant number of drug seizure cases. Subsequently, they have also been identified in impaired driving cases. This presentation will provide a background onto these troubling and difficult new drug issues and so that prosecutors and law enforcement officers may better deal with such issues while investigating and prosecuting Drug-DUI cases.
Presenter: Nicholas Tiscione, M.S., D-ABFT-FT
There is no charge to attend this webinar, but you must register in advance. Click here for complete information and registration information.
FEBRUARY TRAFFIC TUESDAY WEBINAR
Title: DRE and the IACP 2021: Updates & Enhancements
Date: Tuesday, Feb. 15, 2022
Time: 2 - 3:30 p.m. Eastern
Presenter: Joe Abrusci, Project Manager – Drug Evaluation and Classification Program Eastern Region, International Association of Chiefs of Police
Description: 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. Additionally, it will provide updates on recent and pending Frye/Daubert Hearings regarding the DRE program. Finally, it will provide information on judicial and prosecutor training related to the DRE program.
There is no charge to attend this webinar, but you must register in advance. Click here for complete information and registration information.
MARCH TRAFFIC TUESDAY WEBINAR
Title: The Evolution of Standardized Field Sobriety Tests
Date: Tuesday, Mar. 15, 2022
Time: 2 - 3 p.m. Eastern
Presenter: Kyle Clark, DECP National Project Manager - IACP
Description: Much has changed since the introduction of the “Improved Sobriety Test Battery” in 1984. During this presentation, Drug Evaluation and Classification Program National Project Manager Kyle Clark will review the history of the changes and improvements made to the SFST program over the past 35 years. Background information will also be shared to enlighten prosecutors and law enforcement officers on the reasoning behind some of the changes that have served to enhance the accuracies of the three standardized field sobriety tests over the years so that they can better explain these important tests in court on a DUI case.
There is no charge to attend this webinar, but you must register in advance. Click here for complete information and registration information.
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.
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.
The largest gathering of highway safety professionals in the United States
Last year, an estimated 36,096 people died in motor vehicle crashes in the U.S. Lifesavers is recognized as the premiere conference to learn about the latest highway safety research, best practices, and cutting-edge initiatives; and to explore innovative technology and strategies used to combat risky driving behaviors and save lives. The Lifesavers Conference is also historically the world’s largest gathering of leaders and advocates in traffic safety. Now in its 40th year, the Lifesavers Conference will take place Mar. 13-15, 2022 in Chicago, IL.
The 2022 Lifesavers Conference will provide a national platform with 70 workshops in nine tracks, plenary sessions, peer exchange discussion groups, and an extensive exhibit hall. The Lifesavers Conference program is designed to engage federal, state and local government; law enforcement; public health; injury prevention; advocacy and non-profit organization professional in an exchange of ideas, strategies, and programs to reduce preventable injuries and deaths.
Don’t miss your opportunity to participate in the latest and greatest networking opportunity in traffic safety, highlighting research to practice efforts across the country!
Visit the 2022 LifeSavers Conference website by clicking here.
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.
