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Year-to-Date Confirmed Fatalities, Current vs 2023 Fatalities
 FATAL CRASHES 2024 YEAR TO DATE MAP can be found here.
OSTATS CRASH DASHBOARD can be found here.
 The Ohio Traffic Safety Office, a division of The Ohio Department of Public Safety, is introducing a new public awareness campaign to remind drivers about Ohio’s school bus traffic safety laws. The message is focused on the school bus stop law, which requires drivers to stop for school buses when they are picking up or dropping off children.
As part of this campaign, OTSO is making educational materials available to schools, law enforcement, and other entities across the state in a promotional toolkit. Printed materials include a poster, two-sided fact sheet, and rack card. The toolkit also includes social media content and an informational video produced by OTSO.
Data from the Ohio State Highway Patrol shows an increase in citations for drivers who illegally pass a stopped school bus.
- In 2023, Troopers issued 735 citations to drivers who failed to stop for a school bus – an 18% increase from the year before.
- On average, Ohio State Highway Patrol Troopers issue 627 citations for this offense each year.
This campaign is one of the recommendations from Governor Mike DeWine’s School Bus Safety Working Group, which released a full report with recommendations in January 2024. The Working Group is calling for improvements in public education opportunities, after a survey by the Ohio School Boards Association recommended that communities improve school bus safety messaging aimed at members of the public. The report also points out that other drivers are usually at fault in school bus crashes that result in injuries and fatalities.
The promotional toolkit is now available on the Ohio Traffic Safety Office website by visiting the "Stop Means Stop" page.
The Ohio School Safety Center announced six winning entries in the school bus safety public service announcement video contest. One of the recommendations of the Ohio School Bus Safety Working Group called for the Ohio Department of Public Safety to work collaboratively with a broad range of stakeholders to deliver impactful school bus safety public service announcements and other public awareness materials and opportunities. High school media programs were encouraged to create training videos for the public.
School Bus Safety Public Service Announcement Winning Videos
The winners include:
The OSSC, in conjunction with the Ohio Traffic Safety Office, vetted the entries and selected the best videos.
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In an effort to enhance Ohio’s teen driver training, the Ohio Traffic Safety Office (OTSO) is now offering AAA’s nationally recognized driver training curriculum, How to Drive, free of charge to current and prospective driver training schools in Ohio. This new resource will support driver training schools, instructors, and students by providing turn-key, high quality educational content.
“In the past, driver training schools have had to either create their own lesson plans or purchase an Ohio-approved curriculum with Ohio-specific lesson plans,” said Emily Davidson, OTSO’s Executive Director. “Since we know lesson planning takes a considerable amount of time, our office aims to support these small businesses by providing a high-quality, free option for classroom and behind-the-wheel training.”
Recent research shows that Ohio drivers who obtain their driver license at 16 or 17 are less likely to be in injury crashes within their first 12 months of licensure, than those who are first licensed at age 18 or 19 when training is no longer required.
To help more Ohio teens benefit from driver education, OTSO has identified three priority areas: more accessibility, increased capacity, and stronger education. OTSO has other grants that focus on capacity and accessibility, but this initiative was specifically created to help strengthen education. However, it will also help support the other two priority areas by helping new driver training schools get started quickly to help meet the demand of current and new students.
The AAA How to Drive Novice Driver Training Program is designed specifically to address the causal factors in young driver crashes and relies heavily upon scientifically reliable data to support driver education concepts, and teaching methods and techniques. It is the only officially nationally recognized curriculum that is endorsed by the American Driver & Traffic Safety Education Association (ADTSEA).
Driver Training Schools can request the free curriculum materials HERE.
 Free hands-on training is still available this summer for teen drivers in Ohio to practice crash avoidance techniques and gain the experience necessary to become safer drivers. OTSO is partnering with three Advanced Driver Training programs to increase access to these specially designed classes that address the leading causes of teen crashes.
Spots are still available for students who want to take the class in Lima and Wood County. Registration is now open for the final event in Cincinnati.
Parents can register their teens for a session at one of these events by following the link on the calendar on OTSO’s Advanced Driver Training resource web page.
It’s important to note that this free training opportunity is separate from the required training that teens must complete in order to get their driver’s license – which is 24 hours of classroom instruction, and 8 hours of behind the wheel training with a licensed instructor.
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Help us spread the word! Download this flyer and share with students who are interested in signing up!
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NEW THIS YEAR: FREE TEEN SAFETY IN MOBILITY TRAINING – Ohio teens are encouraged to enroll in a FREE one-hour course on August 17 or 18 in Amherst, Ohio with Ford Driving Skills for Life. This training will help teen drivers learn electronic scooter safety as well as tips and techniques for keeping pedestrians and cyclists safe on the roads.
The hands-on Safety in Mobility course will be held at Marion L Steele High School. Teens ages 13+ can sign up at https://drivingskillsforlife.com/training/hands-on-training. Space is limited.
Spread the news! Ford Philanthropy is providing social media messaging and a graphic for local agencies to promote registration for this event.
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Motorcycle Ohio, a division of the Ohio Traffic Safety Office, recently presented twelve “Saved by the Helmet” awards to riders across Ohio who survived serious crashes while wearing a helmet. Each rider gets a certificate of recognition and a new replacement helmet.
Riders over 18 are not required by Ohio law to wear a helmet, but 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. To nominate a rider who was “Saved by The Helmet”, contact the Motorcycle Ohio office at 1-800-837-4337 or visit motorcycle.ohio.gov.
Two awards were presented at Napoleon Harley Davidson on July 26.
- Karen Daniels of Oak Harbor was riding on W. Water Street on June 15, 2023 when she was hit by an oncoming driver making a left turn into a parking lot. Daniels and her motorcycle were pinned under the front bumper of the car. She was taken to the hospital with a broken leg, but sustained no head injuries thanks to her full-face helmet. The driver of the car was cited for Failure to Yield to Right-of-Way when turning left.
- On May 24, 2024, Lanita Gaul of Plain City was hit by a driver who ran a stop sign on Middleburg Plain City Road in Union County. Gaul was thrown over the car and landed in the road. She was taken to the hospital with minor injuries. Her helmet was damaged, but she had no head or face injuries.
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Motorcycle Ohio's largest presentation ever was held during AMA Vintage Days at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course on July 28. Eight riders from across Ohio were honored after they were injured in 6 separate incidents:
- Jeffery Byard, Warren
- Blake Colegrove, Fairfield
- Carl & Stephanie Faulkner, Bucyrus
- Charles Helbert, Ashland
- Richard & Karen Myers, Mount Gilead
- Michael Pohl, Springfield
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Bradley Stenger of Cincinnati was honored at The Ohio State Fair on August 2. On April 13, 2023, Stenger was involved in a hit and run crash on I-75 while he was riding to work. The driver of an SUV in front of Stenger suddenly hit their brakes – causing him to hit the back of the vehicle. He was thrown from the bike before landing in the freeway median, and the driver left the scene. He was treated for injuries at the hospital but maintains that his helmet saved his life. The at-fault driver of the SUV was never found.
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 Congratulations to the Independence, OH Police Department for winning the Officer Traffic Safety award at the 2024 Destination Zero National Officer Safety and Wellness Awards presented by The National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund.
The awards are given to innovative programs aimed at reducing risk factors for line-of-duty deaths.
The Independence Police Department won the Traffic Safety Award for their program that uses portable generators at all major intersections in their city. Each officer has a universal key so that in the event of inclement weather or a traffic collision, officers do not have to stand in the intersection to direct traffic.
Law enforcement agencies are encouraged to submit details about their successful safety and wellness programs by applying for the annual 2025 Officer Safety and Wellness Awards through an online application process at nleomf.org.
    
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  Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over
National High Visibility Enforcement
August 16 - September 2, 2024
Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over is a national high-visibility enforcement campaign that focuses on the consequences of drunk driving and is supported by increased law enforcement.
- During the 2022 Labor Day holiday (6 p.m. September 2-5:59 a.m. September 6), there were 490 crash fatalities nationwide.
- Of these 490 traffic crash fatalities, 39% (190) involved a drunk driver, and a quarter (25%) involved drivers who were driving with a BAC almost twice the legal limit (.15+ BAC).
- Among drivers between the ages of 18 and 34 who were killed in crashes over the Labor Day holiday in 2022, 47% of those drivers were drunk, with BACs of .08 or higher.
Sample social media posts, talking points, news releases, and more are available now on NHTSA's Traffic Safety Marketing resource page.
August/Labor Day | Traffic Safety Marketing
 Child Passenger Safety Week
September 15-21, 2024
September 21, 2024: National Seat Check Saturday
Keeping children safe while traveling is a top priority. We have resources you can use to encourage parents and caregivers to make sure their child is in the right car seat for their age and size, and that it's installed correctly. Many assets are available in English and Spanish. Get Material Now
🡪 Key Message
- Car Seat Safety, including:
- purchasing the correct car seat according to a child’s weight and height,
- properly installing a car seat, and
- when to move a child to the next type of seat.
On behalf of the NHTSA team, thanks for your proactive support of child passenger safety!
 48th Annual Training Conference & Exhibition
- National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives (NOBLE)
- Gathering of over 2,000 law enforcement professionals that represent cities and communities across the nation and world.
- New Orleans, LA
- August 9-13, 2024
- www.noblenational.org
IACP Impaired Driving and Traffic Safety Conference
- International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP)
- The IDTS Conference is the largest training conference for drug recognition experts and traffic safety professionals.
- Washington, D.C.
- August 16-18, 2024
- https://www.theiacp.org/IDTSconference
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Law Enforcement Recruitment Summit
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GHSA 2024 Annual Meeting
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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
WEBINAR SERIES
*The following webinars are approved by the Supreme Court of Ohio Commission on Continuing Legal Education 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.
AUGUST 2024 TRAFFIC TUESDAY WEBINAR
Title: Preparing Your Motor Vehicle Crash Case for Trial (2024)
(Supreme Court of Ohio approval for 1.5 general CLE hours)
Date: Tuesday, August 20, 2024
Time: 2:00p-3:30p Eastern
Presenter: Prof. John Kwasnoski, Western New England University
Description: Traffic Homicide cases involving impairment often involve complex collision reconstruction and the use of collision reconstruction experts. This session will provide insight on cross examining the defense collision reconstruction expert in such cases and a few rules of engagement, including emphasis on the importance of gaining concessions from the defense expert to use during closing argument.
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). 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.
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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.
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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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:
Click here for more information and how to register.
 Operation Lifesaver Aims to End Tragedies on the Tracks in Ohio
 Operation Lifesaver is a nonprofit Rail Safety Education organization whose goal is to reduce/eliminate all vehicle-train and pedestrian-train incidents. The organization has programs in 47 states, Washington D.C., Canada and Mexico. Every year they send out volunteers to raise public awareness about making good/safe decisions at highway-rail crossings and around railroad tracks. They give presentations to children, teens, adults, school bus drivers, professional drivers and mature drivers. Volunteers also attend community events, the Ohio State Fair, hold positive enforcement crossing blitzes and have special training classes for our first responders. Everything Operation Lifesaver does is free of charge.
"Ohio is one of the busiest rail states in the nation," said Alan Stouder, State Coordinator for Operation Lifesaver. "Ohio has over 5,100 miles of tracks and around 5,600 public highway crossings. Unfortunately, for the past 10 years, Ohio has been in the top ten states for vehicle-train collisions and pedestrian-train incidents."
Some Operation Lifesaver supporters include Norfolk Southern, CSX, Wheeling & Lake Erie, Ohio Central, PUCO, ODOT, ORDC, Ohio Department of Education and the Association of Ohio School Boards.
Photo: Former Cleveland pitcher Jensen Lewis championing Operation Lifesaver's streaming PSA campaign in Cleveland.
If you would like to partner with Ohio Operation Lifesaver, have a rail safety presentation, hold a training class for your law enforcement or first responders, invite us to have a booth/table at your event or volunteer to help with our rail safety education mission. Contact Alan Stouder, State Coordinator Ohio Operation Lifesaver, email oplifeohio@gmail.com or call 419-551-6398.
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See Tracks? Think Train Week
Sept. 23-29, 2024
See Tracks? Think Train Week (formerly Rail Safety Week) is a concentrated week of rail safety education focusing attention on the importance of making safe choices when driving or walking near railroad tracks and trains. First held in the U.S. in 2017, this collaborative effort among Operation Lifesaver Inc., State Operation Lifesaver Programs and rail safety partners across the U.S., Canada and Mexico is now called See Tracks? Think Train® Week (ST3Week for short) throughout the U.S. to better represent what the week-long observance is all about:
- Preventing railroad crossing and trespass incidents across North America
- Concentrating public attention on the need for rail safety education
CLICK HERE to get free materials and resources for ST3Week 2024.
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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.
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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Crash Data Bulletins:
In partnership with the Ohio State Highway Patrol, OTSO will biannually publish 88 county-specific crash data bulletins. This tool was designed for driver training schools to help educate young drivers on local-level driving trends, dangerous roads and intersections, and seatbelt usage. But they are publicly available for use by parents, teachers, and other traffic safety partners to display and share at community events to promote traffic safety and better inform all drivers about crash risks in the areas they drive every day.
The spring 2024 data sheets for every county in Ohio are now available for download HERE.
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