Governor DeWine Announces Teen Driver Safety Scholarship Awards
(COLUMBUS, Ohio) – Ohio Governor Mike DeWine announced that his administration is awarding more than a half a million dollars in grants that will help more teenagers in low-income families get access to free driver training.
The grants are being awarded through Governor DeWine's Drive to Succeed Scholarship Program and Youthful Driver Safety Fund.
Twenty-five local governmental agencies will receive a total of $575,000 as part of the new Drive to Succeed Scholarship Program. Governor DeWine launched this community-based teen driver training scholarship program in December 2022. The program was developed to allow to eligible teenage drivers to attend driver training classes at no cost to their families.
“Teen driver training courses can cost anywhere from $300 to $600 or more, which can be a huge barrier for some families,” said Governor DeWine. “By increasing accessibility to this important training for teenage drivers, we can better ensure their safety, the safety of their passengers, and the safety of others on the road.”
The 25 agencies below will each receive funding to use toward awarding scholarships.
“Every year, traffic crashes claim hundreds of lives in Ohio, and educating our youngest drivers is an important step toward preventing crashes,” said Andy Wilson, director of the Ohio Department of Public Safety. “We are proud that these grants will directly support hundreds of young people who otherwise wouldn’t have had the means to complete driver education and gain the experience needed to become safer drivers.”
In addition to the Drive to Succeed grant awards, Governor DeWine awarded a total of $50,000 from the Youthful Driver Safety Fund to five juvenile courts in Ohio. The grants will allow the courts to provide juvenile traffic offenders with advanced behind-the-wheel training to improve driving skills and reduce fatal car crashes involving teens.
Governor DeWine launched the Youthful Driver Safety Fund in 2020. The courts listed below will each receive $10,000 to offer advanced driver training to juvenile traffic offenders at no cost to their families.
According to research by Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, new drivers under the age of 18 who complete the mandatory driver education under Ohio’s Graduated Driver Licensing (GDL) requirements were less likely to crash than drivers licensed at age 18 who are exempt from these requirements. Ohio is one of only a handful of states with comprehensive licensing requirements for juvenile drivers that include behind-the-wheel training at a licensed driving school, in addition to classroom or online instruction, parent-supervised practice driving, and learner permit holding periods.
Both grant programs are administered by the Ohio Traffic Safety Office (OTSO) within the Ohio Department of Public Safety. OTSO received overwhelming interest in the Drive to Succeed Scholarship Program, with over 70 grant applications submitted by agencies across the state.
“The incredible number of initial grant program applications demonstrates the enormous demand in Ohio for quality driver training programs,” said OTSO Director Emily Davidson. “Given the many benefits of earlier licensure for youthful drivers, OTSO strives for more equity in access to driver training.”
OTSO awarded grants based on the amount of funding available, the total number of proposals submitted, and the need of the community determined by area of the state, poverty level, and population.
National Distracted Driving Enforcement Mobilization
April 3-10, 2023
April is National Distracted Driving Awareness Month
This year'sU Drive. U Text. U Pay. high visibility enforcement (HVE) media campaigncenters on aiding law enforcement officers in their efforts to keep texting and 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 traffic safety epidemic.
In Ohio, this mobilization will be more important than ever, as the State's new distracted driving law goes into effect on April 4, 2023.
Senate Bill 288 strengthens the law on use of cell phone and electronic devices while driving.
The new law is a general ban on using or holding a phone while driving (with some exceptions)
The use of cell phones and other electronic communications devices will now be a primary offense for all drivers- law enforcement can immediately pull over a distracted driver upon witnessing a violation.
The law includes a 6-month grace period, where officers can only issue warnings.
Ohio is developing a public education and communications plan to appeal to all drivers.
NHTSA research shows that large scale, high-visibility enforcement combined with paid/earned media can effectively reduce hand-held cell phone use and texting while driving. The studies suggested that the public's perception of robust enforcement is crucial to reducing the behavior.
NHTSA and Traffic Safety Marketing feature downloadable campaign materials designed for States and traffic safety advocates. We anticipate that this persuasive message will resonate with the target audience of men and women 18-34.
The message is clear: U Drive. U Text. U Pay.
Click here to download the 2023 campaign materials.
On behalf of the NHTSA team, thank you for your proactive support in distracted driving prevention.
OTSO Needs Crash Stories from Law Enforcement For New Round of Safety Bulletins for Teen Drivers
The Ohio Traffic Safety Office is still collecting stories about problem areas and localized crash trends to share with students training to become licensed drivers.
Reports from 15 counties are still needed to complete the safety bulletins that will be distributed in April 2023:
Ashtabula
Champaign
Columbiana
Darke
Erie
Hancock
Huron
Madison
Mahoning
Marion
Ottawa
Sandusky
Seneca
Warren
Wyandot
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 as soon as possible.
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:
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 27th: 7-9 pm, Zane State College in Zanesville
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
To learn more about what it takes, please visit this link.
To complete our online questionnaire, please visit this link.
420 Drug-Impaired Driving Prevention Campaign
April 20, 2023 (Thursday)
Although its origins are uncertain, April 20th (more commonly known as 420) has become synonymous with marijuana use and, in some circles, this date is considered is a "marijuana holiday”. Consequently, there will likely be an increase in marijuana use.
As highway safety advocates, your efforts will help reduce the number of crashes and fatalities due to drug-impaired driving. Make a difference by increasing enforcement efforts, raising public awareness, and maximizing your local resources.
Click here to download your campaign materials now.
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.
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.
COURSE DESCRIPTION: 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 will engage 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.
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.
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.
APRIL TRAFFIC TUESDAY WEBINAR
Title: The Cannabis Impaired Driver: What We Can Expect to See (Ohio Bar Approval for 1.5-hr CLE General Credit)
Date: Tuesday, April 18, 2023
Time: 2:00p-3:30p Eastern
Presenter: Shannon Bryant - Nevada TSRP
Description: Cannabis is not a new drug to the impaired driving scene. However, as more states continue to legalize its use for recreational purposes, the cannabis industry has exploded along with the variety and forms of the products. Many of these products contain few, if any, of the telltale signs of the past, such as odor. The mainstreaming of these products has resulted in a dramatic increase in the number of people using cannabis products and choosing to get behind the wheel. This presentation will cover how cannabis affects the human brain and how those effects translate into observable indicators, allowing for law enforcement to better document the cannabis DUI case to enhance the ability of prosecutors to proceed with such a case. Additionally, it will provide a background into cannabis impairment for prosecutors, so that they can better evaluate and prepare for the handling of the difficult cannabis DUI case in court using a Drug Recognition Expert or other expert witness.
There is no charge to attend this webinar, but you must register in advance. Click here for more information and to register online.
MAY TRAFFIC TUESDAY WEBINAR
Title: The Implicit Four-Letter Word: Bias in Traffic Cases (Ohio Bar Approval for 1.5-hr CLE general credit)
Date: Tuesday, May 23, 2023
Time: 2p-3:30p Eastern
Presenter: Nicole Cofer - WV TSRP
Description: Implicit Biases are held by all regardless of race, gender or status, and that bias has the ability to spill into our work. This talk with take a look at the role bias can play in the investigation, prosecuting and sentencing of traffic cases, and help us to look inward to be cognizant of what biases we may possess and if those biases play a role in how we handle our cases.
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:
May 22-23, 2023 - Elyria
July 10-11, 2023 - Cincinnati
To view more upcoming classes and to register, click here.
Updated Manuals Available to Download
NHTSA has released updated ARIDE and SFST manuals for 2023:
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:
June 7, 2023
August 17, 2023
September 7, 2023
Click here for more on the requirements to enroll and how to register.
Lifesavers 2023 Conference
National Conference on Highway Safety Priorities (Seattle, WA)
Ohio's Seat Belt Rate Drops to 80.8% - The Lowest Since 2005
Every state is required to conduct a statistically valid survey of seat belt use each year. The study is an important tool for NHTSA and The Ohio Department of Public Safety to use in analyzing crashes and fatalities. The study helps NHTSA and DPS determine the effectiveness of the annual national Click It or Ticket (CIOT) campaign. The results can also identify the geographic regions, vehicle types and occupant demographics related to low and high compliance rates. NHTSA and DPS can then provide more targeted public information campaigns and law enforcement initiatives to increase restraint use and help save lives throughout Ohio.
Ohio partners with the University of Akron to maintain a fair and unbiased survey, using NHTSA-approved methodology. The study is conducted in two phases: two weeks before the CIOT campaign, and again two weeks after the campaign. The days of the week and times of day for each observation location are assigned randomly. The observers are retired Ohio State Highway Patrol Troopers. This added experience in the field improves the overall quality of the data.
2022 Study at a Glance:
344 site locations randomly selected in all 88 Ohio counties
A total of 43,223 occupant observations collected: 36,488 drivers and 5,732 passengers
The CIOT campaign showed a positive impact on statewide compliance, with a 2.2% increase in compliance in the 2 weeks after the campaign
Cuyahoga County had the lowest overall compliance at 59.0%
Guernsey County had the highest overall compliance at 84.9%
Local roads had by far the lowest rate of compliance in the state
Trucks had the lowest compliance rates of any vehicle type: 76.3% for heavy trucks and 77.7% for light trucks
In addition to observing seat belt compliance, data regarding cell phone usage was also collected for the first time in Ohio. Observers were instructed to consider drivers to be using a cell phone if they could clearly be seen talking on it.
Ohio had a statewide driver phone use rate of 4.5%
The study found a 5.6% increase in seat belt compliance after the CIOT campaign for drivers with did not use a phone.
To read the complete 2022 Seat Belt Survey, click HERE
The NHTSA regional offices commonly provide states a seat belt wearing target of 90 percent or higher. Not meeting a seat belt wearing rate target means a state may have to provide additional information to qualify for seat belt funding.
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.
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