As part of an integrated response to increasing bicycle and pedestrian crashes on Ohio's roadways, the Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) and its partners recently launched a new statewide safety effort called Read the Road: There's space for all of us, aimed at reducing crashes and saving lives through education and awareness.

After declining from a peak in 2021, fatal and serious injury crashes involving bicyclists and pedestrians are again on the rise. There were 900 Ohioans walking or bicycling who did not reach their destinations last year.

The safety effort is focusing on documented crash causes with educational messages that reinforce safe driving behaviors:

• Yielding for pedestrians
• Obeying the speed limit in areas with high levels of pedestrian and bicycle activity
• Remaining alert and visible while walking or bicycling
• Sharing the road responsibly

While there are fatal and serious bicycle and pedestrian crashes in all of Ohio’s 88 counties, a recent crash analysis highlights that the state’s urban areas rank among the highest — Franklin, Cuyahoga, Hamilton, Montgomery, and Lucas counties. The Read the Road safety effort has a particular focus on these and other high-crash locations across Ohio.  Those other locations include Holmes County, as traditional forms of transportation (walking and biking) are frequently used among the Amish population.
More information on Read the Road including free downloadable safety materials are available on ODOT's website.

Two riders were recognized in partnership with Franklin County Safe Communities at Euro Bike Night in Columbus on Sept. 22.

• Christopher Merz of Columbus was struck by a teen driver on July 28, 2025. He was thrown over his handlebars and hospitalized for 6 days but sustained zero head injuries thanks to his helmet. The teen driver only had his temporary permit and was driving unsupervised, and he was cited for a temporary permit violation.
• On August 23, 2025, Yash Patel of Grove City was hit when a driver in an SUV made an illegal u-turn, trapping Patel underneath the vehicle. He suffered serious injuries, but believes wearing his helmet saved his life.

Hashem Baharoon of Parma was honored at the ArtiFlex Manufacturing annual health and wellness fair on Oct. 1.

Baharoon was involved in a hit and run crash while riding on I-71 in Cleveland on April 16, 2024. He was traveling southbound near I-90 when a driver in a black pickup truck ahead of him braked suddenly for unknown reasons. Baharoon applied the brakes causing the back of his motorcycle to lift into the air before he hit the back of the pickup truck. He was thrown over his handlebars, landing in the roadway. He was taken to the hospital for treatment and believes he survived thanks to his helmet. The driver of the pickup truck left the scene and has not been located.

The Ohio Traffic Safety Office is offering free vinyl banners (left) and black ribbon lapel pins to support WDoR events in Ohio.

*Current OTSO grantees should contact their planner regarding any grant revisions or questions about grant-supported WDoR events.

• CLICK HERE to register your event and request free materials.
• Check out our media toolkit with sample press release, and social media posts with customizable graphics to add your agency's logo

• Help us spread the word about your event! OTSO is creating an online event calendar with all WDoR events in Ohio. To add your event to the calendar WITHOUT requesting materials, please e-mail trafficsafety@dps.ohio.gov.

National School Bus Safety Week

Key Dates:

• October 19-23, 2026

Millions of children across the nation ride on a school bus every day – that’s why school bus safety is important in every community. Use this material from NHTSA to educate the public about student loading/unloading safety, school zone speed enforcement and motorist compliance with school bus stop-arm laws. 

OTSO has a promotional toolkit with social media assets available for anyone to use to remind drivers about Ohio's school bus traffic safety laws.

Order "Stop Means Stop" printed materials from OTSO's Online Materials Order Form

• OTS1010 School Bus Stop Means Stop Flyer
• OTS1011 School Bus Stop Means Stop Poster

Many law enforcement officers report limited training on child passenger safety (CPS) and uncertainty about current Ohio CPS laws. When it comes to protecting child passengers, having quick access to accurate information is critical.

The Car Seat Basics for Law Enforcement online course was designed specifically for officers to build confidence in recognizing proper car seat use, understanding Ohio’s CPS laws, and knowing how to respond in the field. This convenient, self-paced training also offers CPT credit.

Take a proactive step to better protect the children in your community. Complete the training today! 

• CLICK HERE to download the flyer to post in your agency's briefing room

Access the free course here: Child Passenger Safety Learning Portal

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. 

The Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Division of Wildlife reminds drivers to stay alert for increased white-tailed deer movement and activity along roadways during the fall. October, November, and December are the peak months of the deer breeding season, and the frequency of deer-vehicle collisions rises during this time.

The white-tailed deer is perhaps Ohio’s best-known wildlife species. It is seen in the state’s wildlife areas, parks and nature preserves as well as in the backyards of rural and suburban residents. It is the state’s only big game animal and can be found in a variety of habitats, including woods, farmlands, brushy areas, dense thickets, and edges.

White-tailed deer are more active during the fall breeding season. The breeding season, known as the rut, may cause deer to unexpectedly dart into roadways with little caution. Additionally, deer may move around more frequently, across wider areas, and at all hours of the day at this time of year. All these factors increase the risk of deer-vehicle collisions.  

How to avoid animal collisions:

• Keep your focus on the roadway to provide as much time as possible to spot a deer. 
• Slow down without swerving out of your lane. 
• If you do spot a deer, keep in mind they often travel in groups. Seeing one deer on the roadway may indicate others are nearby. 
• Use your high beam headlights when there is no oncoming traffic to make spotting deer alongside the road easier. Watch for reflections from a deer’s eyes. 
• Be extra cautious while driving at dawn and dusk. 
• Watch for deer where the road intersects fencerows, riparian corridors (a riparian corridor is a stream, river, or ditch lined with trees or other vegetation), and forested habitats. 
• Always wear a seatbelt and remain awake, alert, and sober:The chances of getting injured when hitting an animal are much higher if you don’t have your seatbelt on. If you’re distracted or drowsy, you’re not properly scanning the road for deer and could end up spotting them too late.

What to do if you hit a deer:

• Following the collision, call law enforcement to file a crash report.
• Avoid making contact with the deer/animal. A frightened and wounded animal can be dangerous and pose a threat when approached or might further injure itself.
• Activate the vehicle’s hazard lights whether it’s light or dark outside.
• If possible, move the vehicle to a safe location out of the roadway, and wait for help to arrive.
• Drivers should contact their insurance agent or company representative as quickly as possible to report any vehicle damage.

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!

Outdated forms sent via fax or e-mail will still be accepted, but this online link will be updated when new materials are added to our inventory. More items coming soon!

Fast Facts is an educational tool to help inform drivers about local level crash risks and data trends. Each county-specific bulletin includes the latest crash statistics, timely safety talking points, and stories of real crashes.

All 88 bulletins are available publicly for driving instructors, Safe Communities, employers, and law enforcement to use for presentations and to display at public events. Parents of teen drivers may also find them useful for the required 50 hours of in-car practice.

OTSO extends its thanks to the Ohio State Highway Patrol for the collaboration on the Fast Facts bulletins.

CLICK HERE to download the current "Fast Facts" bulletin for your County!