Safe Communities

Safe Communities of Tuscarawas County

The Safe Communities program of the Tuscarawas County Health Department is made possible through a grant from the Ohio Traffic Safety Office. The goal areas are as followed:

- Increase seat belt restraint usage
- Increase public awareness of seat belt usage, impaired driving, distracted driving and other problems specific to traffic safety related issues
- Increase motorcycle safety awareness among motorcyclists and motorist
- Create a safe communities coalition and hold meetings, at minimum, quarterly
- Conduct fatal data reviews to identify patterns or trends that could increase impact of traffic safety countermeasures

For more information contact the program coordinator, Kelly Snyder, at (330) 343-5555 x182 or ksnyder@tchdnow.org

Safe Communities Coalition

You should come to this meeting if:

You would like a safer community
You would like to increase traffic safety awareness
You are a local EMS, Fire, or Law enforcement
You have a business in Tuscarawas County
You have been affected by drunk driving, distracted driving, impaired driving, and/or not using a seat belt.

Contact Kelly Snyder at (330) 343-5555 x 182 or ksnyder@tchdnow.org for more information or a member application

2020 Tuscarawas County Safe Communities Coalition Meetings
*All meetings begin at 1:00pm at the Tuscarawas County Sheriff's Office Meeting Room

Wednesday, February 26th
Wednesday, May 27th
Wednesday, August 26th
Wednesday, November 18th

Tuscarawas Traffic Safety Survey 2017

Safe Communities of Tuscarawas County 2019 Traffic Fatality Report

From January 1, 2019 - December 31, 2019, the State Highway Patrol reports a total of 2,501 vehicle crashes investigated in Tuscarawas County. Of the 2,501 crashes investigated Tuscarawas County experienced 9 fatal crashes with 10 crash fatalities. In 2018 Tuscarawas County experienced a total of 11 fatal crashes with 12 fatalities which was an improvement from 2017 when Tuscarawas County experienced a total of 19 fatal crashes with 20 fatalities.

“When we look at the statistics, we know that OVI education and enforcement needs to be a top traffic safety priority in our County” said Kelly Snyder, Safe Communities Program Coordinator for the Tuscarawas County Health Department. “67% of the fatal crashes in 2019 involved some type of impairment” reported Snyder. Other factors in the fatal crashes were unbelted occupants, pedestrian fatalities, and speed.

The Safe Communities Coalition is comprised of partners from different agencies and organizations in Tuscarawas County. “Each partner brings a different perspective to the table. These partners are critical to the success of Safe Communities’ traffic safety efforts” said Snyder.

Safe Communities conducts traffic safety media campaigns, coordinates events and activities and distributes educational materials to help prevent fatal traffic crashes and injuries from occurring in Tuscarawas County. In the past year, Safe Communities of Tuscarawas County reached over 6,000 people through outreach at more than 25 events throughout the County. Some events included working in many of the local high schools to educate youth about the importance of safe driving. The group also spent time educating the driving population of Tuscarawas County on impaired driving, seatbelt use, distracted driving, and motorcycle awareness.

On February 26th, 2020 members of the Safe Communities Coalition will be meeting to review the traffic fatalities from the fourth quarter of 2019 to identify any trends or measures that can be taken to prevent future traffic fatalities in our County. If you would like to know more about the Safe Communities project please visit www. tchdnow.org/safe-communities.html.

For more information about OTSO and statewide efforts to improve safety on Ohio’s roadways, log http://ohiohighwaysafetyoffice.ohio.gov/index.stm
###