Each year, The Super Bowl attracts 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 to remind all football enthusiasts that:
Fans Don’t Let Fans Drive Drunk
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.
Click here and get your earned media materials now. 2023 posters and social media sample messages now available!
OTSO Director Retires After 31 Years of Service to Ohio
The Director of the Ohio Traffic Safety Office, Felice Moretti, retired from The Department of Public Safety on January 31, 2023. Moretti has worked in public service for 33 years. He started his career with Franklin County Clerk of Courts, where he spent 2 years. He joined the Department of Public Safety’s Bureau of Motor Vehicles 31 years ago, starting in the mail room and then serving as an administrative professional. He then transitioned to the Ohio Traffic Safety Office, where he has been a fixture for over 22 years. At OTSO, he was responsible for starting the traffic safety paid media program- the first of its kind in Ohio. Over the last 20+ years, he has been instrumental in raising the profile of the traffic safety office, both in Ohio and nationally. Felice and his wife Beth raised two daughters, Ellen and Abby, in Columbus. He is retiring to Margaritaville in South Carolina.
Emily Davidson, the former assistant director, will now take over as OTSO's director.
FFY2023 Summer Holiday Enforcement Program Grants
The Ohio Traffic Safety Office (OTSO) provides federal funds from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to eligible entities to be used in part for, but not limited to, traffic safety education, enforcement and awareness. The Summer Holiday Enforcement Program (SHEP) is for law enforcement agencies whose jurisdiction experienced an average of at least 1.67 motor vehicle related fatal crashes during 2019, 2020, and 2021 to conduct Highly Visible Enforcement (HVE) activities in areas to impact their fatal crashes (e.g., occupant protection, speed, alcohol and drugged driving, aggressive driving, motorcycle crash reduction, failure to yield, etc.).
Reminder: FFY2023 SHEP grant proposals must be submitted in GRANTS Plus by February 28, 2023.
Questions can be directed to your OTSO Planner and/or your Law Enforcement Liaison (LEL).
OTSO Collecting Crash Stories from Law Enforcement For New Round of Safety Bulletins for Teen Drivers
The Ohio Traffic Safety Office is now collecting more stories about problem areas and localized crash trends to share with students in training to become licensed drivers. These reports will soon be distributed in 88 county-specific Driver Training Bulletins to all licensed driving schools in Ohio and shared with the public on the OTSO website. The goal is to raise awareness about traffic safety among young drivers. Data sheets will be updated every 6 months with local-level information and safety facts related to the season. The first bulletins received positive feedback after they were announced by Gov. Mike DeWine and distributed in October.
To view and download the first round of Driver Training Bulletins, click here.
To report crash stories/incidents for the next round of Bulletins, fill out this form and email it with all photos to trafficsafety@dps.ohio.gov by March 1.
Have you ever considered becoming a motorcycle instructor?
The demand is higher than ever for passionate and dedicated instructors to train the next generation of riders. While the state has come a long way in reducing motorcycle-related fatalities, we still have a long way to go.
WHY become a motorcycle instructor?
You can make a positive impact in the riding community. Our well-trained and knowledgeable instructor base makes a difference in training individuals to “Ride S.M.A.R.T.”
The 2-wheel instructor training is broken down into in-person and virtual sessions:
100% attendance is required.
The course is 90+ hours, including pre-course assignments.
You must pass the final exams and meet specific training requirements before becoming certified.
You are invited to an information session to learn more:
February 27th: 7-9 pm, Pickaway-Ross Career Technical Center in Chillicothe
March 9th: 7-9 pm, Delaware Area Career Center in Delaware
March 14th: 7-8:30 pm, Shawnee State Community College in Portsmouth
March 16th: 7-9 pm, Apollo Career Center in Lima
March 23rd: 7-8:30 pm, Hudson High School in Hudson
March 24th: 3:30-5:30 pm, The Ohio Department of Public Safety in Columbus
March 28th: 7-9 pm, Butler Tech LeSourdsville Campus in Middletown
April 4th: 7-8:30 pm, Lakeland Community College - Holden University Center in Kirtland
April 5th: 11:30am -1:30 pm: The Ohio Department of Public Safety in Columbus
Additional information sessions will be announced for events in Chillicothe and Hamilton.
To learn more about what it takes, please visit this link.
To complete our online questionnaire, please visit this link.
Vehicle Safety Recalls Week
March 6-12, 2023
NHTSA manages vehicle safety recalls, sets vehicle safety standards, and requires automakers to recall vehicles that have safety defects or do not meet those standards.
During Vehicle Safety Recalls Week, NHTSA is asking you to:
Increase awareness of the urgency of safety recalls;
Encourage drivers to check for open safety recalls on their vehicles; and
Get those open safety recalls repaired for free as soon as possible.
In January 2020, the Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV) was among the first in the nation to launch a vehicle safety recall notification program using the state’s vehicle registration renewal process.
Through the program, vehicle safety recall information is printed on registration renewal notices, which are sent through the mail.
Drivers who were not the original owners of their vehicle may not be aware of an open recall or inadvertently dismissed the notification from the manufacturer.
Together with stakeholders, the BMV identified this as a severe gap and worked to close it at no cost to customers.
An open recall does not affect the ability of a customer to renew their vehicle registration.
They can also contact their authorized dealership.
Saint Patrick's Day Buzzed Driving Prevention
March 17, 2023
This year, St. Patrick’s Day - March 17, 2023 - falls on a Friday. The celebratory day is one of the biggest drinking occasions of the year, and this, unfortunately, means more drunk drivers on the roads. With Saint Patrick's Day falling on a Friday, we can expect a fairly dangerous weekend for drivers and passengers alike.
If you plan to drink, make sure you refrain from driving and make a plan to get home safely. 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.
Buzzed Driving is Drunk Driving
Please use these marketing tools to fit your needs and objectives while, at the same time, partnering with other States, communities, and traffic safety organizations on this impaired driving prevention initiative.
On behalf of the NHTSA team, thank you for your proactive support in decreasing impaired driving and saving lives.
Updates to Ohio Administrative Code Regarding Alcohol Testing (OAC 3701-53)
TO: Ohio Law Enforcement Agencies
FROM: Jeanna Walock, Forensic Toxicologist Program Administrator
The Alcohol and Drug Testing Program in the Ohio Department of Health’s (ODH) Public Health Laboratory has been working to update administrative rules related to the program. I am writing to announce that the changes to the rules have been approved and will go into effect on Monday, January 23, 2023. We wanted to share with you the major changes to these rules. The rules now include definitions of key terms and required record retention guidelines.
Two evidential breath alcohol test instruments have been added to the approved list -- the Intoxilyzer 9000 and the Intox DMT. Alcohol and Drug Testing Program personnel will work with agencies to provide operator and senior operator training for the new instruments in the coming months.
Two currently approved instruments, the BAC Datamaster and Intoxilyzer 5000, will be supported and approved until Thursday, January 23, 2025. The Intoxilyzer 8000 instrument remains on the approved list and will continue to be supported by ODH.
Oral fluid is now specified as a toxicology laboratory sample for impaired driving cases, in addition to blood and urine.
We appreciate the valuable feedback and support received from our stakeholders throughout the rule review process.
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.
21 Prosecutors Participate in January 31 CLE Training
Nearly 2 dozen participants attended the latest free CLE training, "Prosecuting The Drugged Driver" at the Ohio State Highway Patrol training academy. This course is funded by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and hosted by the Ohio Traffic Safety Office, Traffic Safety Resource Prosecutor and Ohio Drug Evaluation and Classification program. Participants engaged in interactive sessions covering topics such as: signs & symptoms of drug impairment including identifying causes and prevention of addiction, drug impairment detection, and treatment alternatives, the Drug Recognition Expert (D.R.E.) process, the role of the toxicologist, effectively litigating and presenting a DUID case at trial, and more. More trainings have now been scheduled for 2023:
April 14 - Stark County Sheriff's Office (registration now open)
September 20 - Owens Community College, Toledo
December 6 - Stark County Sheriff's Office
WHEN: April 14, 2023 (9:00 am- 4:00 pm)
WHERE: Stark County Sheriff's Office Training Bureau, 143 1st St., SE, Massillon, Ohio 44646
WHO: Municipal and County Prosecutors and Law Enforcement
REGISTRATION: Email TrafficSafety@dps.ohio.gov by April 1, 2023. PLEASE DO NOT DELAY…. WE ANTICIPATE A GOOD RESPONSE. SPACE IS LIMITED TO 20.
This course has been approved by the Supreme Court of Ohio Commission on Continuing Legal Education for 6.00 total CLE hours, with 1.50 of attorney professional conduct instruction. It is free for prosecutors and law enforcement. Please contact Holly Reese, Traffic Safety Resource Prosecutor @ hreesetsrp@ gmail.com or (330)904-8971 with any questions.
Click HERE for complete course description and agenda.
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* You must virtually attend the live webinar for CLE credit. Please email your bar number to Holly Reese (hreesetsrp@gmail.com) at the conclusion of the webinar to have it submitted to the Supreme Court.
FEBRUARY TRAFFIC TUESDAY WEBINAR
Title: DRE and the IACP 2023: Updates & Enhancements
Date: Tuesday, February 21, 2023
Time: 2p-3:30p Eastern
Presenters: Joe Abrusci, Project Manager – DECP Eastern Region, International Association of Chiefs of Police Jim Maisani, Project Manager – DECP Central Region, International Association of Chiefs of Police Chuck Hayes, Project Manager – DECP Western Region, International Association of Chiefs of Police
Description: This session is intended to provide an update on projects related to and affecting the DRE program that are underway, as well as new offerings to help further ARIDE 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 more information and to register online.
MARCH TRAFFIC TUESDAY WEBINAR
Title: Is It Medical? How is a DRE to Know? (Ohio Bar Approval for 1.5-hr CLE General Credit)
Date: Tuesday, March 28, 2023
Time: 2p-3:30p Eastern
Presenter: Tom Morehouse - DRE Agency Coordinator, Baltimore County Police Department
Description: There has been an increase in high profile cases making national news concerning drug impairment and medical impairment cases. In some of these cases, officers thought it was a medical situation, but the person was under the influence of drugs. There have been situations where a Drug Recognition Expert was involved and decided the impairment was because of drugs, when it was a medical issue. In this workshop, the presenter will review four common medical conditions (Stroke, Hypoglycemia, Parkinson’s Disease, and Autism/IDD) that officers could encounter both on the street and during DRE evaluations.
There is no charge to attend this webinar, but you must register in advance. Click here for more information and to register online.
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.
Upcoming classes:
March 13-14, 2023 - Springfield
May 22-23, 2023 - Elyria
July 10-11, 2023 - Cincinnati
To view more 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.
Advanced Cannabis Impairment Training (ACIT)
ACIT is an 8-hour course that is designed to train law enforcement officers to observe, identify and articulate the signs of impairment related to cannabis. The goal is to reduce impaired driving incidents and crashes that result in serious injuries and fatalities. The course includes classroom and practical instruction by Drug Recognition Experts. Dates:
March 15, 2023
June 7, 2023
August 17, 2023
September 7, 2023
Click here for more on the requirements to enroll and how to register.
New Fatal Vision Goggles Simulate Opioid & Polydrug Impairment
Recently, members of the Ohio Traffic Safety Office and Ohio State Highway Patrol participated in a demonstration of new Fatal Vision impairment goggles. Many Safe Communities coalitions and law enforcement agencies in Ohio are already familiar with Innocorp’s flagship product, the alcohol impairment goggles, which simulate the effects of alcohol at various BAC levels.
Innocorp creates hands-on tools that safety advocates use for outreach programs and campaigns, especially those involving traffic safety. The company launched its first product in 1996, a few years after the founder, Michael Aguilar, came home to find that a drunk driver went off the road into the yard where his 5-year-old son and a friend were playing. The driver narrowly missed his son, but the young friend was hospitalized with serious injuries.
After the success of the Fatal Vision Alcohol Simulation Goggles, Innocorp began innovating more products, including two new simulator products for Polydrug impairment (alcohol and marijuana) and Opioids.
The Polydrug Goggles help demonstrate the impairments experienced by people under the influence of alcohol and marijuana/THC and how those effects can impact their reflexes and abilities. The goggles will impair the participant’s ability to perceive color and ability to maintain their balance during an activity similar to a game of Tic Tac Toe and the DIES Maze Driving Mat activity.
The Opioid Goggles work together with an app to model how opioid abuse depresses the central nervous system causing divided attention failure, nodding out, contrast sensitivity impairment, and a feeling of heaviness in the extremities which is commonly associated with opioid misuse. Participants wearing wrist weights will be tasked with completing a puzzle while the goggles limit their vision and even blackout completely for short to extended periods.
*The Ohio Traffic Safety Office does not endorse these products, the information is being presented here for informational purposes for impaired driving campaigns and events.
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.
Localized Traffic Safety Bulletins Available Online:
In partnership with the Ohio State Highway Patrol, OTSO will biannually publish 88 county-specific driver training bulletins for use by parents, teachers, and driving instructors to help educate young drivers on local-level driving trends, dangerous roads and intersections, and seatbelt usage.
Individual data sheets for every county in Ohio are available for download HERE.
