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September 18, 2023

Year-to-Date Confirmed Traffic Fatalities, Current versus 2022 Traffic Fatalities

FATAL CRASHES 2023 YEAR TO DATE MAP can be found here.

OSTATS CRASH DASHBOARD can be found here.

Speed Awareness Day Results 48 Law Enforcement agencies from Ohio participated in a one-day high visibility enforcement campaign.

The 2023 National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) Region 5 and 7 high visibility Speed Awareness Day enforcement campaign was held on July 26.

• Ohio officers issued a total of 1,875 speeding citations during the campaign.
• 257 seat belt citations were also issued by officers in Ohio.
• Ohio officers made 366 arrests during speed enforcement detail.
• The Ohio State Highway Patrol reported recovering ten stolen vehicles during speed enforcement detail.

The speed awareness campaign was a one-day speed enforcement event created by the Illinois Association of Chiefs of Police and coordinated in Ohio by the Ohio Traffic Safety Office (OTSO) and its respective law enforcement liaisons. The initiative was held in July because studies show that the most fatal crashes where speed is a contributing factor occur between June and September.

In Ohio, speeding is involved in about 30% of all deadly crashes. Early NHTSA estimates for 2022 show 1,278 people were killed in crashes in Ohio, which represents a slight decrease of 5.6% when compared to 2021 (1,354 fatalities).

According to crash statistics from Ohio in 2022:

• 11% of all crashes were speed-related.
• 351 people died on Ohio's roadways in speed-related crashes.
• 1,456 people were seriously injured (that's almost four people per day).
• 40% of Ohio's speed-related deaths occurred between June and September.

According to NHTSA, drivers who speed are also more likely to engage in other risky behaviors, such as not wearing a seat belt, drinking and driving, or using a cell phone while driving.

Thank you for your participation! We look forward to an even bigger event in 2024!

Distracted Driving Enforcement Begins in October

Beginning October 5, Ohio drivers can get a ticket for violating the State's recently strengthened distracted driving law.

• Fines are doubled if the violation occurs in a work zone.
• After the first offense, drivers can take an online distracted driving course to help avoid the fine and points.

The law makes it illegal in most cases for anyone driving in Ohio to use or hold a cell phone or electronic device. The violation is now considered a primary offense, allowing any officer to pull over a distracted driver immediately.
Drivers over the age of 18 can still make or receive calls while using a hands-free device like speakerphone, earpiece, wireless headset, electronic watch, or connection to vehicle. Devices can only be activated with a single touch or swipe.

For more information, visit phonesdown.ohio.gov

Campaign materials are still available: Fact Sheets - OTS1000 Spanish Fact Sheets - OTS1004 Posters - OTS1001 Information/Tip Cards - OTS1002 *NEW* Vinyl Outdoor Banners - 414260 Car magnets, window clings & more rack cards coming soon! Materials are available free of charge by completing the Materials Order Form and returning to OTSO by fax or by e-mail.

Police Chief Receives 'Saved By The Belt' Award

Perrysburg Police Chief Patrick Jones was surprised last week with a 'Saved by the Belt' award, presented by Wood County Safe Communities Coordinator Sandy Wiechman and Sheriff Mark Wasylyshyn.

Chief Jones was involved in a crash on May 19, 2023 on US Route 23 at State Route 105. He was traveling southbound when he was struck by another driver who failed to yield to the right of way of his unmarked SUV. The Chief said he passed out after the crash, but the result would have been much worse without his seatbelt.

"There's no doubt that my head would have been through the windshield," he said, adding that he suffered burns from the airbags and bruising from the seatbelt.

"It's great to recognize the Chief. People are going to see that even the police chief was saved from serious injury or death because he had a safety belt on," said Sheriff Wasylyshyn. "The facts are safety belts save a tremendous amount of lives."

More coverage: https://www.13abc.com/video/2023/09/12/bright-side-september-12-2023/

Thank you Sandy Wiechman for sharing this story and pictures!

New Seatbelt Posters Now Available!

The Ohio Traffic Safety Office was inspired by Ohio's horse owners to come up with a safety message reminding rural truck drivers to buckle up. OTSO worked with the Ohio Department of Agriculture to create the images and the message targeting this audience.   "When you hit the road with your horse in tow, buckle everyone - yourself and your horse, of course!" #buckleupinyourtruck #holdyourhorses Ohio's 2022 seat belt survey found that compliance dropped to 80.8% - the lowest rate since 2005. The survey also revealed that trucks had the lowest compliance of any vehicle type: 76.3% for heavy trucks and 77.7% for light trucks. This new 17x11 poster is now available to order on the updated Materials Order Form. OTS0018 Buckle Up Hold Your Horses Rural Driver Poster

2023 Child Passenger Safety Week

September 17-23, 2023
National Seat Check Saturday: September 23, 2023

Car crashes are a leading cause of death for children, according to the latest NHTSA data. A child is involved in a crash while riding in a passenger vehicle, on average, every 25 seconds. When installed correctly, car seats can reduce the risk of fatal injury in a crash by 71% for infants and by 54% for toddlers.

Download these campaign materials and get information on how to generate awareness about child car safety in your community.

 Click here and get your campaign materials now.

National Teen Driver Safety Week

October 15-21, 2023

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 (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 campaign materials in English and Spanish.

Halloween Impaired Driving Prevention

October 31, 2023 (Tuesday)

Halloween is meant to be scary, but not when it comes to driving.

• Drunk Driving

38 people were killed in 2021 on Halloween night in drunk-driving crashes. 

Now available: Halloween alcohol-impaired campaign materials for Buzzed Driving Is Drunk Driving.

• Drug-Impaired Driving

It doesn’t matter what term you use (high, stoned, or wasted), never get behind the wheel after using an impairing substance.

• Now available: Halloween drug-impaired campaign materials for If You Feel Different, You Drive Different.

Use these marketing tools, which can be distributed to fit your local needs and objectives. These materials will partner your office with other States, communities, and organizations on this impaired driving prevention initiative.

On behalf of the NHTSA team, thanks for your proactive support in impaired driving prevention.

TRAFFIC SAFETY RESOURCE PROSECUTORS
VIDEO TRAINING SERIES

• COMBATING ALCOHOL AND DRUG - IMPAIRED DRIVING (IIHS), to view this video click here.
  
  
• TO MEET THE TSRP'S AND LEARN WHAT TRAINING IS AVAILABLE TO LAW ENFORMCEMENT AND PROSECUTORS, click here.  
  
  
• OHIO INTOXILYZER 8000 FOR PROSECUTORS - to view click here.

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.

OCTOBER TRAFFIC TUESDAY WEBINAR

Title: Advanced Trial Testimony: The Science of Deciding a DUI (Ohio Bar Approval for 1.0-hr Professional Conduct CLE Credit)

Date: Tuesday, October 17, 2023

Time: 2:00p-3:30p Eastern

Presenter: Ed Hirsch - Montana TSRP

Description: Human behavioral scientists have spent considerable time studying how humans make decisions.  This training delves into how we make decisions, what triggers those decisions, and the ethically appropriate approaches law enforcement and prosecutors can make to put their best foot forward in the courtroom.  While these skills are applicable to all testimony, this training emphasizes their application during DUI testimony.

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: September 25-26, 2023 - New Philadelphia October 16-17, 2023 - Nelsonville October 23-24, 2023 - Cincinnati November 13-14, 2023 - Elyria November 27-28, 2023 - London December 18-19, 2023 - Delaware 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.

AAMVA Annual International Conference

• American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators
• Premier event for jurisdictions, industry, and federal partners to come together to share experiences and learn. (Madison, WI)
• September 26-28, 2023
• https://www.aamva.org/events-education/conferences-meetings/conferences/2023-annual-international-conference

IACP Annual Conference & Expo

• International Association of Chiefs of Police
• The largest and most impactful law enforcement event of the year – thee three tenets of the conference are training, networking, and exhibit hall education (San Diego, CA).
• October 14-17, 2023
• https://www.theiacpconference.org/

OTSO offers materials for numerous traffic safety campaigns, including impaired driving, restraint usage, distracted driving, speeding and motorcycles. Utilizing these free materials can make an impact that can reach beyond your community. By raising public awareness YOU can help save lives. The order form can be found by clicking HERE.

Mission Statement: As a division within the Ohio Department of Public Safety, the Ohio Traffic Safety Office (OTSO) is dedicated to saving lives and preventing injuries on Ohio’s roads by using creative leadership, innovative education and comprehensive enforcement programs. OTSO strives to work in partnership with local, state and federal entities to advance equity in highway safety programs, ensuring they benefit all road users in Ohio.

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