April is National Distracted Driving Awareness Month
Don't Drive Distracted. Eyes Forward. is a year-round social norming campaign that focuses on distracted driving prevention. NHTSA's Traffic Safety Marketing has resources that can be used to encourage drivers to focus on the road, and not drive distracted.
Click here for communication resources related to distracted driving for the month of April.
Distracted Driving Enforcement Campaign April 4-8, 2024
The national distracted driving high visibility enforcement (HVE) campaign kicks off April 1 with a new tagline, Put the Phone Away or Pay. This distracted driving enforcement campaign reminds drivers of the deadly dangers and the legal consequences – including fines – of distracted driving. This tagline replaces U Drive. U Text. U Pay.
On behalf of the NHTSA team, thanks for your proactive support in distracted driving prevention.
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420 If You Feel Different, You Drive Different April 20, 2024
On the 20th of April, also known as 420 — a number associated with marijuana use — marijuana users might observe a day of increased marijuana use. NHTSA has themed material that reminds drivers: If You Feel Different, You Drive Different and that it's dangerous and illegal to drive impaired.
In Ohio, messaging on this topic will be especially critical in 2024, as marijuana has been legal in the state since December after Ohioans passed Issue 2 in November. State lawmakers are still making changes to the current law, which means people cannot legally purchase non-medical marijuana yet, but they can grow their own - six plants per person with 12 plants per residence.
Click here for relevant, timely messaging that your agency can use to create an opportunity for engagement with your community.
OTSO Seeking Exhibitors for 2024 Ohio Traffic Safety Summit
Do you know an organization or business that would be a great exhibitor at the Ohio Traffic Safety Summit? Government agencies receive FREE exhibit space!
Get your organization in front of over 500 attendees, share what you have to offer, and form lasting relationships with traffic safety professionals from all over Ohio!
Join us to exhibit for two days at the Ohio Union in Columbus!
Share this link with potential exhibitors: ohiotrafficsafetysummit.com/exhibit-marketing-email.html
Thank you for your support!
Registration Open for Summit Attendees:
Join us to share resources and ideas, and network with colleagues and vendors from across the State. Registration is FREE!
Visit the official summit website to see the full schedule and register to attend.
The Ohio Child Passenger Safety Conference will provide up to 6 CEUs for attendees to meet their recertification requirements. Registration is available online at: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/2024-ohio-child-passenger-safety-conference-tickets-803423741037.
Cost is $115.00 and includes breakfast, lunch, snack and all the sessions, including one-on-one time with some of the top child restraint manufacturers and hands-on practice with the latest seats.
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ONIC Law Enforcement Drug Summit
- Learn from industry experts, and exchange best practices on the latest strategies in combatting the challenges posed by the illicit drugs that plague our communities.
- Registration is FREE
- Columbus, OH
- May 29-30, 2024
- https://onic.ohio.gov/annual-drug-summit/welcome
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2nd International Conference and Peer Exchange on Roadside Safety
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Breath Testing Training Calendar |
The Alcohol and Drug Testing program oversees and approves breath testing for OVI for the state of Ohio. Law enforcement interested in attending a free class to obtain a breath testing permit or renew a permit should register online.
More information and a link to the training calendar is online: Training and Calendar | Ohio Department of Health
Free SFST Refresher Classes
The Stark County Sheriff's Office is hosting SFST Refresher Classes taught from a DRE perspective. Each one-day class will cover all the SFSTs and talk about some other clues for impairment. The class does not replace ARIDE but is designed to be a good opportunity for law enforcement to brush up on SFSTs. There is no cost to attend. The class will be held from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on these dates:
- Friday May 10, 2024
- Friday November 8, 2024
To register, please email 77@starksheriff.org
WHEN: April 25, 2024 (9:00 am- 4:00 pm)
WHERE: Lake County Sheriff's Office Training Bureau, 2041 Blasé Nemeth Rd., Painesville, Ohio 44077
WHO: Municipal and County Prosecutors and Law Enforcement
This 6-hour course is designed to provide prosecutors and law enforcement officers with the knowledge and skills necessary to successfully investigate and prosecute drug impaired driving cases. The course is designed to encourage a team building approach between prosecutors and officers to aid in the detection, apprehension, and prosecution of drug impaired drivers.
To register e-mail TrafficSafety@dps.ohio.gov by April 3, 2024. 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 more information and the full agenda
WEBINAR SERIES
*The following webinar is 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.
APRIL 2024 TRAFFIC TUESDAY WEBINAR
Title: Field Sobriety Tests and the Detection of Cannabis-Impaired Driving
Date: Tuesday, April 30, 2024
Time: 2:00p-3:30p Eastern
Presenter: Thomas D. Marcotte, PhD, Professor of Psychiatry, Co-Director, Center for Medicinal Cannabis Research, HIV Neurobehavioral Research Program, University of California, San Diego
Description: With increasing legalization of cannabis for recreational and medicinal uses, it is critical to identify drivers who are, or are not, impaired due to use. While field sobriety tests (FSTs) are the gold standard for determining impairment at roadside, questions have been raised regarding their sensitivity to cannabis-related impairment, the frequency with which non-intoxicated individuals do poorly on FSTs, and the risks of confirmation bias in attributing possible reasons for poor FST performance.
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.
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 and how to apply for this free training, please view the DRE Application, School Information and Requirements by clicking here.
Upcoming training dates:
- Oct. 21 - 31, 2024 (OSHP Academy)
- Nov. 6 - 12, 2024 (Field certifications out of state)
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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.
To view upcoming classes and to register, click 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. There is no cost to attend. *Must be a commissioned law enforcement officer and have attended ARIDE before enrolling.
Upcoming training dates:
- May 16, 2024
- July 18, 2024
- September 12, 2024
Click here for more information and how to register.
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New Training Site Opening in Muskingum County
Motorcycle Ohio, a division of the Ohio Traffic Safety Office, will open a new training site at Zane State College. Ohioans who wish to learn what it takes to ride a motorcycle safely and responsibly can sign up now to take classes at the new training site, which begin on April 6, 2024. Officials will hold a ribbon cutting ceremony at Zane State College in Zanesville on Wednesday, April 3 at 1 p.m.
“Motorcycle crashes are preventable, and proper training is key to saving lives,” said Michele Piko, the program coordinator for Motorcycle Ohio. “We’ve made some progress in reducing motorcycle fatalities, but we still have a long way to go. Since 2019, there have been 1,031 deadly crashes involving motorcycles in Ohio and about 87% of those fatalities involved riders who were untrained.”
The Motorcycle Ohio program, offered by the Ohio Department of Public Safety, provides different levels of motorcycle safety courses for riders based on their skill levels and objectives. Funded by motorcycle license plate fees and class registrations, Motorcycle Ohio strives to provide affordable, effective education programs at just $75 per course. Students must have a validated motorcycle temporary permit before their first riding session. Upon successful completion of any course, the student will earn a 60-day Bureau of Motor Vehicles skill test waiver for a motorcycle license or endorsement.
“Motorcycle safety is a shared responsibility amongst all motorists,” said Lt. Richard Chesar, Marietta Post Commander of the Ohio State Highway Patrol. “We encourage motorcyclists to ride responsibly, trained, and defensively by making sure you are riding with an endorsement, wearing proper safety equipment, obeying all traffic laws, and never riding impaired.”
“Zane State College's exciting collaboration with Motorcycle Ohio perfectly complements our ongoing commitment to safety on campus,” said Shelley Zimmerman, Dean of Health, Public Service and Social Sciences. “While we prioritize safety within our college community, this partnership extends our reach into the broader communities we serve. Our motorcycle instructors are eager to bring their expertise to Zane State, drawn by our scenic location near Dillon State Park and the renowned starting point of the Triple Nickel Tour (OH 555), a breathtaking 36-mile scenic byway known as the ‘Trip Nick.’ We anticipate forging a strong and enduring relationship with Motorcycle Ohio as we work together to promote safety and responsible riding practices.”
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. The order form can be found by clicking HERE.
NEW: CLICK HERE to order online!
Faxed and e-mailed forms will still be accepted, but this online link will be updated when new traffic safety materials are added to our inventory.
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