Law enforcement officers across Ohio are joining officers from five other Great Lakes states including Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota and Wisconsin on July 27 for the first-ever National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) Region 5 high visibility Speed Awareness Day enforcement campaign. During the campaign, law enforcement officers will combine increased, zero-tolerance enforcement with effective communication to road users on the importance of obeying the speed limit. High Visibility Enforcement (HVE) is a proven countermeasure for reinforcing driver compliance with posted speed limits.
"There is no question that high speeds are dangerous, and we must continue to reinforce the importance of following the speed limit," said Ohio Governor Mike DeWine. "During this enforcement event, law enforcement throughout Ohio will be keeping a close watch on speeds in an effort to prevent crashes and save lives."
According to crash statistics from Ohio in 2021:
11% of all crashes were speed-related
360 people died on Ohio's roadways in speed-related crashes
1,549 people were seriously injured - that's more than 4 people per day
32% of Ohio's speed-related crashes occurred between June and September
This voluntary speed enforcement effort requires registration and reporting through a website created by the state of Illinois.
Click HERE to access the online tracking form to report your agency's enforcement efforts and activity
Thank you in advance for your participation!
NHTSA 2022 Speed Prevention Campaign
July 20 - August 14, 2022
In 2021, there were 5,413 fatal injuries in NHTSA Region 5 with 1,668 (30.8%) being speed-related fatalities. This was an increase of 17.7% from 2020. Ohio ranks second in the six-state region with 1,351 total fatalities, an increase of 9.8% from the previous year.
To help reduce the number of speeding fatalities on the roads, NHTSA is developing a new 2022 safety campaign to remind drivers that Speeding Wrecks Lives:
Speeding Catches Up With You (social norming)
Speeding Slows You Down (enforcement)
Click HERE to get earned media assets now 2022 Social media playbook now available!
TWO MOTORCYCLE CRASH SURVIVORS HONORED
Motorcycle Ohio, a division of the Ohio Traffic Safety Office (OTSO), recently presented "Saved By The Helmet" awards to two Ohio riders. The award is given throughout the year to those who survive serious crashes while wearing a helmet. Riders receive a certificate of recognition and a new replacement helmet. State law does not require adults to wear a helmet, but Motorcycle Ohio hopes that acknowledging riders who wear protective gear will help to promote and increase awareness of the life-saving value of motorcycle helmets.
Lonnie McCoy of Warren (right) was injured on August 3 2021 while riding on U.S. Route 422 in Troy Township when the rear tire on his motorcycle blew. McCoy was thrown from the motorcycle as it rolled off the roadway. He broke his collar bone and nine ribs, but says his helmet saved his life. Motorcycle Ohio presented him with an award and replacement helmet at the Ohio State Highway Patrol Warren Post on Thursday, July 14, 2022.
John Hilliard Sr. (left) was honored on Friday, July 15, 2022 during a presentation at the Ohio State Highway Patrol post in Circleville. On May 22 2021, Hilliard was thrown 20 feet from his motorcycle while riding during a father/son trip to Tennessee. Known as the "Tail of the Dragon", the curvy 11-mile stretch of U.S. 129 is popular with motorcyclists and car enthusiasts. Hilliard suffered multiple broken bones and a concussion, but he credits his helmet for saving his life.
Regardless of circumstances surrounding a crash, a person is more likely to survive while wearing a DOT-compliant helmet. Candidates for membership must:
Be nominated within a year of their crash
Must not be cited for serious offenses like driving under the influence, reckless operation, or those who survived when another individual was killed.
Be an Ohio resident holding a valid endorsement or permit at the time of the crash.
Do you know someone who qualifies for the "Saved by the Helmet" Club? Submit a nomination online at this link.
TRAFFIC SAFETY RESOURCE PROSECUTORS VIDEO TRAINING SERIES
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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.
Topic: The Role of Traffic Safety Culture in Addressing Roadway Fatalities
July 20, 2022 - 1:30 PM
*note: This is a 90 minute session
It will take decisive action to address the 42,915 deaths we saw on our streets last year. It will also take a shift in our culture that currently accepts those deaths and a shift in a shift in how we communicate about traffic safety and prioritize it in our work as transportation stakeholders. This 90-minute webinar will explore knowledge of the role traffic safety culture plays in addressing fatalities, examine current research including that around fear-based messaging vs. positive messaging, knowledge, and provide examples of promising practices around developing a positive traffic safety culture. Attendees will learn of the role traffic safety culture plays in addressing traffic safety through messaging and implementation, and ways that practitioners can begin improving their own work to create a society where zero is the only acceptable number of deaths on our streets.
Register online, see a recording of the June 22nd Road to Zero webinar on National Rural Road Safety Awareness Week, and find more information about future events on the National Safety Council’s Road to Zero events page.
WEBINAR SERIES
*The following webinars are approved by the Supreme Court of Ohio Commission on Continuing Legal Education for 1.5 CLE credit hours for prosecutors:
Description: Despite defense claims that the Standardized Field Sobriety Tests (SFSTs) miss the mark in identifying drug-impaired drivers, the SFSTs are, in fact, a valuable tool for law enforcement to rely upon in identifying drug impairment. Join the Wisconsin TSRPs as they delve into these assertions by the defense bar. This session will address what, if any, evidence the defense bar has to support their claims and it will offer practical tips on how to respond to such challenges.
There is no charge to attend this webinar, but you must register in advance. Click here for complete information and registration information.
AUGUST TRAFFIC TUESDAY WEBINAR
Title: Delta 8 THC: HYPE(er) Or Hoax – The Cannabis Industry’s Blinding Smokescreen For DUI Investigations
Date: Tuesday, August 30, 2022
Time: 2p-3:30p Eastern
Presenter: Chip Walls, Forensic Toxicologist
Description: While not legal, products containing delta-8 THC and others are inaccurately marketed as “safe and legal.” The psychoactive effects of these compounds are qualitatively like delta-9 THC and adversely affect human performance in a dose dependent fashion; thus, they affect a person's ability to safely operate a motor vehicle and become important in DUI cases. This webinar will provide updated information on these substances, including: delta-8 THC, delta-10 THC, and other emerging isomers. It will discuss the prevalence of such substances, detection issues related to them, their toxicology, and public safety risks posed by these substances. Additionally, legal issues related to these substances and DUI cases will be discussed so that prosecutors and law enforcement officers that deal with DUI cases will have sufficient background knowledge into these issues to better handle their cases.
There is no charge to attend this webinar, but you must register in advance. Click here for complete information and registration information.
SEPTEMBER TRAFFIC TUESDAY WEBINAR
Title: Mellanby Effect: A LEO's Perspective on Homeostasis & Burn Off
Date: Tuesday, September 27, 2022
Time: 2:00p-3:30p Eastern
Presenter: Det. Tom Heller, Seattle Police Department
Description: This session will explain from a law enforcement perspective the many factors to review to determine if a defendant is safely off the roadway, including specifics on the scientific phenomena at play in why alcohol impaired people choose to drive. It will explain the background behind homeostasis and burn-off, and discuss how these scientific factors come into play in a DUI case so that both prosecutors and law enforcement officers can better explain and articulate these factors in order to better investigate and prosecute DUI cases. This session is a crucial follow-up to a prior session on the Mellanby Effect conducted by Washington State TSRP Miriam Norman, which explained these factors from a prosecutor's perspective; this session will provide both prosecutors and law enforcement officers with even more information on these factors, this time from the eyes of a law enforcement officer.
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.
August 8-9 - Cincinnati
August 29-30 - Delaware
September 7-8 - Summit County (independent course through DRE)
October 31 - November 1 - Lancaster
December 5-6 - Richfield
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.
National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives (NOBLE)
Annual Training Conference & Exhibition (Orlando, FL)
Columbus-based Nationwide Insurance is sharing the findings of their recent survey among American car owners and independent insurance agents.
The company used Distracted Driving Awareness Month (April) as a platform to share the stats to encourage drivers to put their phones down while behind the wheel. When a driver chooses to look at their phone, they are impacting every single person on the roadway.
In 2021 – 11,883 crashes in Ohio were considered distracted-related.
37 People in Ohio died as a result of distracted driving crashes.
Another important issue is that our laws have not kept up with this technology. For this reason, Nationwide and consumer advocacy groups have renewed their call for all 50 states to adopt hands-free primary enforcement laws. This will enable law enforcement to ticket motor vehicle operators who are using handheld mobile devices behind the wheel. States that have enacted this type of legislation have experienced a decrease in auto crash related fatalities.
In Ohio, distracted driving is considered a secondary offense for adult drivers – which means that drivers over 18 must commit a primary traffic violation before they can get penalized for being distracted behind the wheel.
Drivers who are cited for distracted driving face a fine of $150, and teen drivers face an additional 60-day suspension.
A new law in 2018 adds an additional $100 fine for distracted driving while committing a moving violation. The additional fine can be waived if the offender attends a distracted driving education course.
Nationwide’s survey showed most Americans are very supportive of hands-free legislation.
88% of consumers say they support legislation to address distracted driving.
86% support legislation in their state that would prohibit drivers from holding their phones while driving to talk, text or for other purposes.
In late 2020, Nationwide introduced an experience that provides customized feedback on phone distractions and it’s helping to reduce distractions on our roadways. Through the SmartRide mobile program, there has been nearly a 10% reduction in everyday hand-held distraction among these drivers. Providing feedback on phone use while behind the wheel increases a driver’s awareness on the frequency of this behavior and reduces distracted driving crashes.
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.
