Tag Archives: traffic safety

Deer Season Safety

Posted on October 17, 2012 by | Leave a comment

During the day or at night, encountering a deer while you’re on the road can be dangerous and scary. Deer season is upon us and the Greene County Safe Communities Coalition would like to remind you that your safety on Greene County roadways is a top priority. In 2011, there were 22,717 deer-vehicle crashes statewide with 902 people injured and seven people killed. November saw the most crashes with 5,476, or 182 per day. Greene County saw its fair share of deer-vehicle activity in 2011 totaling 354 crashes resulting in 17 injuries, but no fatalities. Because many deer-vehicle collisions go unreported to police and local authorities, the actual number of crashes throughout Ohio may be as high as 60,000 each year. Last year, the areas with the highest number of deer-vehicle crashes were urban areas.

What can you do to stay safe during deer season? Knowing what to do when you encounter a large animal on or near the roadway can be a life-saver. Here are some tips:
  • Deer are most often along the road side near dawn (7AM) and again at dusk (7:30PM).
  • Deer highly active and on the move from October through early January.
  • Deer are most frequently found on the outskirts of town and in heavily wooded areas.
  • Deer usually travel in pacts.
  • To avoid a deer-vehicle collision, slow down.
  • Always wear a seatbelt.
  • Watch for the shine of eyes along the roadside and immediately begin to slow.
  • Use your high beams whenever the road is free of oncoming traffic.
  • Slow down and flash your lights if you see a deer standing in the road.
  • Some experts recommend one long blast of the horn to scare them out of the road.
  • Pay close attention to caution signs indicating deer or other large animals.
  • If you’re on a multi-lane road, drive in the center lane.
  • Never swerve to avoid a deer in the road.
  • Don’t rely on hood whistles or other devices designed to scare off deer.
  • If you do collide with a deer, call emergency services if injuries are involved.
  • If you do collide with a deer, call local police if no one is injured.
  • If you do collide with a deer, peport it to your insurance company as soon as possible.

    • Keeping calm and driving smart improve your chances of avoiding a collision and staying safe on the road. These tips have been provided by Dawn McCaslin, www.geico.com. For more information on the Greene County Safe Communities Coalition, call Laurie Fox at 937-374-5669 or email her at lfox@gcchd.org.

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    Greene County Combined Health District Receives $42k in Traffic Safety Grants

    Posted on October 3, 2012 by | Leave a comment

    Laurie Fox, Greene County’s Safe Communities Coordinator, announced today that the Ohio Department of Public Safety’s (ODPS) Office of Criminal Justice Services (OCJS) awarded $41,999.99 in federal traffic safety funding to the Greene County Combined Health District’s Safe Communities program for federal fiscal year 2013.

    “Partnerships are critical to the success of any safety effort and we are committed to working with law enforcement and other safety partners to address traffic safety concerns in Greene County,” said Fox. The Greene County Safe Communities Coalition has identified that lack of seat belt use, motorcycle safety and distracted/impaired driving is impacting the safety and welfare of the citizens of Greene County. To save lives and improve the quality of life for our citizens, the Safe Communities Coalition will use the grant funds to increase awareness about distracted and impaired driving in the local high schools, motorcycle safety, and continue to educate the public on the importance of seat belt use through participation in local festivals, school presentations and other programming.

    The funds are passed through OCJS from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to support the efforts of safety partners statewide and focus on traffic safety priority areas such as restraint use, impaired driving, motorcycle safety and youthful drivers. Competitive grant proposals are accepted and reviewed by OCJS. The FFY 2013 competitive grant process solicited grant proposals from state agencies, non-profit organizations, colleges, universities, hospitals, political subdivisions and other interested groups within selected Ohio counties and jurisdictions (based upon the number of fatal crashes).

    For more information about the Office of Criminal Justice Services and statewide efforts to improve safety on
    Ohio’s roadways, log on to http://www.ocjs.ohio.gov.

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    Posted in Greene County, health, news, Ohio

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    Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over This Labor Day

    Posted on August 29, 2012 by | Leave a comment

    Xenia, Ohio — The Greene County Safe Communities Coalition has joined nearly 10,000 other law enforcement agencies nationwide in support of an intensive crackdown on impaired driving August 17–September 3, known as “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over.”

    The problem of impaired driving is a serious one. Data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration shows the number of alcohol-impaired-driving fatalities in America fell 4.9% from 2009 to 2010, but the numbers are still too high.

    In 2010 alone, 10,228 people died in crashes in which a driver or motorcycle rider was at or above the legal limit, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The age group with the highest percentage of alcohol-impaired-driving fatalities in motor vehicle traffic crashes was the 21-to-24 age group.

    “All too often, innocent, law-abiding people suffer tragic consequences and the loss of loved ones due to this careless disregard for human life. Because we’re committed to ending the carnage, we’re in full support of our local law enforcement agencies that are intensifying enforcement during the crackdown. Since twice as many alcohol-impaired accidents occur over the weekend and four times as many occur at night, our local law enforcement agencies will be especially vigilant during these high-risk times when impaired drivers are most likely to be on our roads,” said Laurie Fox, Safe Communities Coordinator.

    Across the country, it is illegal to drive with a blood alcohol concentration of .08 grams per deciliter or higher. According to the latest data, nearly a third of fatalities in motor vehicle traffic crashes involved a driver or motorcycle rider with a BAC above the legal limit – an average of one fatality every 51 minutes in 2010.

    The crackdown will include law enforcement officers in every state, Washington, D.C., and many U.S. cities and towns.

    The Greene County Safe Communities Coalition applauds our local officers, troopers and deputies for aggressively looking for all impaired drivers during the crackdown and arresting anyone they find driving while impaired — regardless of age, vehicle type or time of day.

    “Their message is simple and unwavering: if they find you driving impaired, they will arrest you. No exceptions,” said Fox. “Even if you beat the odds and manage to walk away from an impaired-driving crash alive, the trauma and financial costs of a crash or an arrest for driving while impaired can still destroy your life.”

    According to the Ohio State Patrol, violators often face jail time, loss of their driver licenses, or being sentenced to use ignition interlocks. Their insurance rates go up. Other financial hits include attorney fees, court costs, lost time at work, and the potential loss of job or job prospects. When family, friends and co-workers find out, violators can also face tremendous personal embarrassment and humiliation.

    “Driving impaired is simply not worth all the consequences. So don’t take the chance. Remember, Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over,” said Fox.

    For more information, visit the High-Visibility Enforcement Campaign Headquarters at www.StopImpairedDriving.org.

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    Motorists Are Encouraged to Buckle Up. Every Trip. Every Time.

    Posted on May 15, 2012 by | Leave a comment

    Safety should be everyone’s top priority and Laurie Fox, Greene County Safe Communities Coordinator, today reminded all Greene County residents that saving a life is a snap. Buckle Up America encourages everyone on the road to use seat belts and restraints and to use them properly.

    “Seat belts are the most effective lifesaving feature in a vehicle,” said Ms. Fox. “However, they only work if you use them and use them correctly. It only takes a second to snap the buckle on a seat belt, but the benefits can last you a lifetime.”

    Nearly one in five Americans still fail to buckle up regularly and too many children still don’t use their seat belts or child safety seats.

    In 1998, the U.S. Department of Transportation, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), developed a national initiative to increase seat belt use to 85% by the year 2000 and to 90% by 2005. The latest national seat belt use rate was 85% in 2010.

    “You have too much to lose if you don’t buckle up”, said Ms. Fox. “Using a seat belt will halve your chances of being killed or badly injured in a serious crash, and using the proper age-appropriate car seat in a passenger car will reduce your infant’s chance of fatal injury by 71% and your toddler’s by 54%.”

    According to research compiled by NHTSA, from 1975 through 2009 an estimated 9,310 children under age 5 were saved by child restraints (car seats or adult seat belts).

    All States have laws requiring infants and toddlers to ride in car seats, but children still ride unprotected, and the consequences are frightening. According to NHTSA, fully 31% of passenger vehicle occupants under 5 who were fatally injured in crashes in 2009 were riding unrestrained.

    “Let’s use Buckle Up America! Commit to wearing seat belts on every trip, ensuring that everyone who rides in our cars is buckled up and that all children 12 and younger ride in the back seat in properly installed restraints appropriate for their age and size,” Ms. Fox said. “Remember; never place a rear-facing infant seat in front of an air bag. Drivers and front-seat passengers should maintain at least a 10-inch distance between themselves and their air bags. While we cannot always avoid a crash, we can take the responsibility to do everything in our power to protect ourselves and our loved ones.” Buckle Up America, Every Trip. Every Time.

    The public is invited to attend the Click It or Ticket Kick Off set for Tuesday, May 22nd at 9:30am at The Greene in Beavercreek near Mimi’s Café. Remarks at 9:30am on the Click It or Ticket National Mobilization campaign will be followed by free vehicle maintenance inspections and free child safety seat inspections from 10am – 2pm. Partners for this event include Greene County Safe Communities, AAA Miami Valley, The Greene, Safe Kids Greater Dayton, Dayton Children’s and Ohio State Highway Patrol.

    For more information on the Greene County Safe Communities Coalition, please call 937-374-5669 or email lfox@gcchd.org. For more information on seat belt safety, visit http://www.trafficsafetymarketing.gov.

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    Driving Drunk Will Penalize Your Super Bowl Plans: Start With A Designate Driver

    Posted on February 3, 2012 by | Leave a comment

    [Xenia, OH] – The Super Bowl is America’s most popular national sporting event. All across the country, millions of people gather to socialize and watch the big game. The U.S. Department of Transportation and National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), with support from the National Football League (NFL) and Techniques for Effective Alcohol Management (TEAM) Coalition, have joined forces with Greene County’s local highway safety and law enforcement officials to spread an important safety message to the public about designating a sober driver on Super Bowl Sunday – Fans Don’t Let Fans Drive Drunk.

    “This message is for everyone who will be drinking during the big game. Make the right play and pass your keys to a designated driver so they can get you home safely,” said Laurie Fox, Coordinator for Greene County Safe Communities. “There is no excuse to get flagged for a false start. Our law enforcement men and women of Greene County will be out to stop anyone who decides to drink and drive.”

    In 2010, alcohol-impaired-driving fatalities accounted for 31 percent of the total motor vehicle traffic fatalities in the United States.

    Driving while impaired could result in a loss of your driver’s license or even possibly the loss of your or someone else’s life. On Super Bowl Sunday, make it a team effort to keep ourselves and our loved ones safe. If you plan on driving, plan not to drink alcohol.

    If you are hosting a Super Bowl party:

    Make sure all of your guests designate their sober drivers before kick-off or help arrange
    ride-sharing with sober drivers.
    – Find unique ways to recognize the designated drivers at your party
    – Give them a great spot to watch the game.
    – Whatever non-alcoholic beverage they are drinking, make sure their glass is always full.
    – Let them have the first pass at the buffet table.
    – Make sure their cars are easy to access when it is time to start driving people home.

    Offer a variety of non-alcoholic choices like soft drinks, juice, and water.

    Serve one drink at a time and serve measured drinks.

    Only serve alcohol to guests over 21 years of age.

    Determine ahead of time when you’ll stop serving alcohol, such as one hour before the party ends or at the end of the third quarter (just like NFL stadiums) and begin serving coffee and dessert.

    Add the numbers of local cab companies into your phone so they are just one touch away.

    Take appropriate steps to prevent anyone from drinking and driving.

    Be prepared for guests to spend the night if an alternative way home is not available.

    Remember, you can be held liable and prosecuted if someone you served ends up in a
    drunk-driving crash.

    If you are attending a Super Bowl party or watching at a sports bar or restaurant, please follow these guidelines to make sure you enjoy Super Bowl XLVI responsibly:

    Designate your sober driver before the party begins.

    Avoid drinking too much alcohol too fast. Pace yourself—eat enough food, take breaks, and alternate with non-alcoholic drinks.

    If you don’t have a designated driver, ask a sober friend for a ride home; call a cab, friend, or family member to come and get you; or just stay where you are and sleep it off until you are sober.

    Always buckle up – it’s the best defense against other drunk driving.

    Take appropriate steps to prevent anyone from driving while impaired. Remember

    For more information, please visit www.trafficsafetymarketing.com.

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    Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over This Labor Day

    Posted on August 26, 2011 by | Leave a comment

    The Greene County Safe Communities Coalition has joined nearly 10,000 other law enforcement agencies nationwide in support of an intensive crackdown on impaired driving August 19–September 5, known as “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over.”

    The problem of impaired driving is a serious one. Data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration shows the number of alcohol-impaired-driving fatalities in America fell from 2008 to 2009, but the numbers are still too high.

    In 2009 alone, 10,839 people died in crashes in which a driver or motorcycle rider was at or above the legal limit, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The age group with the highest percentage of alcohol-impaired-driving fatalities in motor vehicle traffic crashes was the 21-to-24 age group.

    “All too often, innocent, law-abiding people suffer tragic consequences and the loss of loved ones due to this careless disregard for human life. Because we’re committed to ending the carnage, we’re in full support of our local law enforcement agencies that are intensifying enforcement during the crackdown. Since twice as many alcohol-impaired accidents occur over the weekend and four times as many occur at night, our local law enforcement agencies will be especially vigilant during these high-risk times when impaired drivers are most likely to be on our roads,” said Laurie Fox, Safe Communities Coordinator.

    Across the country, it is illegal to drive with a blood alcohol concentration of .08 grams per deciliter or higher. According to the latest data, nearly a third of fatalities in motor vehicle traffic crashes involved a driver or motorcycle rider with a BAC above the legal limit – an average of one fatality every 48 minutes.

    The crackdown will include law enforcement officers in every state, Washington, D.C., and many U.S. cities and towns.

    The Greene County Safe Communities Coalition applauds our local officers, troopers and deputies for aggressively looking for all impaired drivers during the crackdown and arresting anyone they find driving while impaired — regardless of age, vehicle type or time of day.

    “Their message is simple and unwavering: if they find you driving impaired, they will arrest you. No exceptions,” said Fox. “Even if you beat the odds and manage to walk away from an impaired-driving crash alive, the trauma and financial costs of a crash or an arrest for driving while impaired can still destroy your life.”

    According to the Ohio State Patrol, violators often face jail time, loss of their driver licenses, or being sentenced to use ignition interlocks. Their insurance rates go up. Other financial hits include attorney fees, court costs, lost time at work, and the potential loss of job or job prospects. When family, friends and co-workers find out, violators can also face tremendous personal embarrassment and humiliation.

    “Driving impaired is simply not worth all the consequences. So don’t take the chance. Remember, Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over,” said Fox.

    For more information, visit the High-Visibility Enforcement Campaign Headquarters at www.StopImpairedDriving.org.

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    Posted in Greene County, news, Ohio

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