The 2022 Labor Day Weekend and the Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over campaign are now in the rear-view mirror.
In order to document Ohio’s effort as we report to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), law enforcement partners are asked to report their enforcement and public awareness efforts. The “Activity Reporting” form can be found here.
Please complete and return your activity report by September 19, 2022. The form can be sent to OTSO by fax at (614) 752-4646 or by email at TrafficSafety@dps.ohio.gov.
Thank you for your support and your agency’s efforts in supporting the goal to make Ohio’s roads safe.
Up Next: Teen Driver Safety Week
October 16-22, 2022
This week, and every week, parents should have conversations with their teens about the important rules they need to follow to stay safe behind the wheel of a motor vehicle.
These rules address the greatest dangers for teen drivers:
distracted driving (including texting while driving)
impaired driving (alcohol and drugs)
inconsistent or no seat belt use
number of passengers
speeding
Even if you think they aren't listening, they are. Remember, set the rules before they hit the road.
Click here and get your campaign materials now from NHTSA.
Motorcycle Ohio Presents 7 'Saved By The Helmet' Awards
On August 17, Austin Caldwell of Fayetteville was recognized at the Wilmington Patrol Post for wearing a helmet when he was involved in a serious crash in 2018. Caldwell was on his way to work as an EMT/Firefighter when he was hit by a driver who turned in front of him on US Route 50 in Jackson Township. He was thrown from his motorcycle into the opposite lane of traffic, and hospitalized with serious injuries. An Ohio State Highway Patrol Trooper told his family that the only thing that saved his life was his helmet.
Christopher and Margie Miller of Waynesburg were thrown from their motorcycle when they crashed on State Route 44 in Marlboro Township on August 14 2021. The trauma doctor at Aultman Hospital who treated them said their lives were saved that day by their helmets. Motorcycle Ohio presented the couple with new replacement helmets and certificates of recognition at the New Philadelphia Patrol Post on August 25, 2022.
On May 5 2022, Mark Kisilewicz of Seville was hit head-on by a driver who crossed the center line going approximately 60 miles per hour on State Route 18 in Litchfield Township. Mark sustained serious injuries to his extremities, but no head injuries thanks to his helmet. The driver at fault in the crash was later indicted on a charge of vehicular assault, a 4th degree felony.
Henry "Hank" Tilbert of Wadsworth was riding on US-42 in Ashland County on May 15 2022, when he struck a deer that ran into the roadway. Tilbert lost control of his motorcycle and crashed. He was taken to the hospital with serious injuries, but his helmet likely saved his life. Both Tilbert and Kisilewicz joined Motorcycle Ohio's "Saved By The Helmet" club during a presentation at the Medina County Sheriff's Office on August 26, 2022.
Julietta Lifka of Brookville was presented a "Saved By The Helmet" award at the Dayton Patrol Post. On July 13 2022, Julietta crashed into a concrete barrier while riding her motorcycle on I-75 in Moraine. The crash happened when she swerved to avoid a semi-truck that merged into her lane. She was thrown from her motorcycle, and tumbled 50 feet down the highway. She was able to walk away from the crash with only minor injuries because she was wearing proper safety gear, including a helmet. At the award presentation on August 30 2022, the investigating officer was there to meet Julietta for the first time since the crash.
Queen City Harley-Davidson hosted a "Saved By The Helmet" presentation for Ricky McVety of Middletown on August 31, 2022. Back in October, McVety was hit by an oncoming driver in a minivan who pulled in front of him at the intersection of Breiel Blvd. and Central Ave. He was hospitalized with serious injuries, but believes his helmet saved his life. Motorcycle Ohio acknowledged McVety for his decision to ride safe by giving him a certificate of recognition and new replacement helmet.
The Ohio Traffic Safety Office and Motorcycle Ohio are currently seeking new "Saved by the Helmet" nominees. Candidates can be proposed by an investigating officer or by someone with knowledge of the crash.
Persons must be nominated within a year of their crash.
Crashes must be verifiable through official state crash records.
Persons 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.
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.
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
*The following webinars are approved by the Supreme Court of Ohio Commission on Continuing Legal Education for 1.5 CLE credit hours for prosecutors:
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.
OCTOBER TRAFFIC TUESDAY WEBINAR
Title: DUI Report Writing: Best Practices for Completing the DUI Alcohol/Drug Influence Report
Date: Tuesday, October 18, 2022
Time: 2p-3:30p Eastern
Presenter: Vin Petty, Florida TSRP
Description: This session will provide an in-depth discussion of techniques and tips to improve the documentation of all aspects of a DUI Investigation. This presentation is taught from a prosecutor's perspective and is designed to assist the law enforcement officer in improving his or her DUI Reports, so that a prosecutor can better use them to succeed in court. It will also serve as a way for prosecutors to better understand what needs to be included in a DUI Report so that they can work to better educate the law enforcement officers that they deal with. A variety of DUI Reports submitted from various agencies in actual DUI Prosecutions -- both good and bad examples -- will be discussed and serve as examples of how to better prepare and use the DUI Alcohol/Drug Influence Report in DUI cases.
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.
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.
International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP)
TEAM Coalition Encourages Ohio Fans to Drink Responsibly
As football season in Ohio gets underway, fans will be driving to watch their favorite teams compete on the field - and many adult fans will likely drink alcohol during the game. TEAM Coalition will also be there: to promote responsible choices and positive fan behavior. TEAM Coalition is a nonprofit alliance made up of 24 member organizations and 7 strategic partners across the United States with a goal to prevent drunk driving. TEAM stands for Techniques for Effective Alcohol Management.
“Over the last year, not only have we seen alcohol related fatalities from traffic crashes increase significantly, but also we have seen fans return to live sports and concerts. And in that time, TEAM Coalition has provided effective alcohol management training and certification to more than 45,000 employees working in 250 venues,” said Jill Kiefer, Executive Director for TEAM Coalition.
TEAM gets to work long before kickoff with robust training at venues. Employees learn about the signs of impairment, tolerance, absorption rate factors, and liability. TEAM believes that controlled alcohol service results in a more responsible outcome and less negative fan behavior. The non-profit also supports Fan Codes of Conduct and other game day policies:
Cutting alcohol service well before the end of the event
Limiting how much alcohol an adult may purchase per transaction
Vigorous ID checking to prevent underage drinking
TEAM also created the “Responsibility Has Its Rewards” campaign – a decade long partnership with all major league members of TEAM Coalition. Last season, more than 108,000 NFL fans pledged to be responsible. Fans over age 21 simply fill out the pledge form at the guest services kiosk to enter the sweepstakes. At some venues, they can get a free non-alcoholic beverage for taking the pledge. At the end of the season, each team randomly selects a Responsible Fan for the Season, and the fans representing the Super Bowl teams win a trip for two to the big game.
In Ohio, Cincinnati Bengals fan Kelli Wilker from Troy won the grand prize: airfare and tickets for two to SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles as well as a $100 Uber credit for safe driving.
The Cleveland Browns have been in the top ten for fan participation for the past 5 years. In 2021, the Browns generated 6,034 fan sign-ups.
“Working as a team saves lives and prevents fatal crashes on our roads,” said Kiefer. “When everyone takes responsibility, everyone wins.”
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.
