Safe Communities

Safe Communities
of Tuscarawas County

The goal of Safe Communities is to work together as a community to prevent traffic related fatalities and injuries in Tuscarawas County by increasing traffic safety awareness.

4th of July- Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over

TCHD, Safe Communities of Tuscarawas County, and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration remind you to have a plan whether you're driving or riding to 4th of July celebrations and always.

Plan ahead for a safe and sober ride home.
Don’t let someone get behind the wheel if that person has been drinking.
If you’re hosting a gathering, make sure everyone has a sober ride home.
Always wear your seat belt. It’s your best defense against impaired drivers.
If you see a drunk driver, call 911.

NHTSA - 4th of July

Safe Summer Travel

This summer many families will be packing up and heading out of town for their family vacation. With the COVID-19 pandemic continually changing, many travelers have chosen destinations that they can drive to. If you are one of the many travelers who will be hitting the highway this summer, please remember to prepare ahead of time and keep the following safe driving tips in mind:

Always wear your seatbelt. Seatbelts save lives. No matter if you are sitting in the back seat or front seat, day or night, please remember to buckle up.
Never drive impaired. Generally, when people think about impaired driving, they only think about consuming alcohol or using drugs. However, it is important to remember that prescription drugs as well as over-the-counter drugs can affect a person’s ability to drive safely. They can cause side effects such as drowsiness, nausea, and blurred vision which can affect judgement and lesson coordination and reaction time.
Get plenty of rest before heading out. Driving while drowsy delays reaction speed, decreases concentration, and impairs judgment.
Never drive distracted. When you are driving on unfamiliar roads it is easy to get distracted trying to read a map or navigation system. Designate a “co-pilot” to do this for you so you can concentrate on your driving.

These are only a few tips. For addition safe summer driving tips as well as tips for stocking and preparing your vehicle, please click the following resource links:

NHTSA's Safe Summer Travel Guide

Traveler Resources from the CDC

AAA's Guide to Prepare Your Car for Summer

Focus On Safety - Cool Tips on Summer Travel PDF (NHTSA)

19 Tips for Summer Driving (DefensiveDriving.org)

100 Deadliest Days of Summer

According to the Ohio State Highway Patrol the time period from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day weekend is referred to as the 100 Deadliest Days of Summer. During this time and always, the Ohio State Highway Patrol is reminding motorists to drive buckled, focused and sober.

Last year in Ohio, 452 fatal crashes killed 478 people during this time period. While these 100 days only represent 27 percent of the calendar year, they account for more than one third of all fatal traffic crashes and deaths.

Summer Construction Project Updates from the Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT))

Summertime travel also means "orange barrel" season is upon us. Road Construction projects are important investments that sustain our existing roadway and highway systems. They are vitally important for maintaining and increasing safety for motorists. Please remember to slow down, stay focused, and take your time when approaching a construction zone.

Below are a couple links from ODOT with information concerning the construction projects that are planned for Tuscarawas County this summer.

2021 Construction Projects (ODOT)

State Route 800/State Route 212 Project

OHGO: Real Time Traffic and Road Status Information

Motorcycle Safety

Be Aware of Intersection Dangers.

Forty two percent of fatal motorcycle crashes that involved another motor vehicle involved a vehicle turning left while the motorcycle was going straight, passing or overtaking a vehicle. There are things you can do to better your odds of avoiding a crash at an intersection. Take a little bit of extra time to use your rear- and side- view mirrors to ensure that nobody is in your blind spots. If you are turning at an intersection, and your view of oncoming traffic is partially obstructed, wait until you can see around the obstruction, scan for all roadway users (pedestrians and motorcyclists included), and proceed with caution. Slow your decision-making process down at intersections.

Stay Alert.

Motorcycles are hard to see due to its narrow profile, a motorcycle can be easily hidden in a car’s blind spots, masked by objects outside a car, or difficult to see as light or weather conditions change. If a motorist can’t recognize or see the motorcyclist that is approaching, it’s difficult to avoid colliding with them. In many fatal motorcycle crashes involving another vehicle, the motorist often claims, “I just didn’t see him.” It’s common for motorists to overlook the presence of motorcycles, or underassess a motorcyclist’s distance. This significantly increases the odds of a collision.

What can you do to better spot a motorcycle?
1- Adjust your rear and side-view mirrors to reduce your blind spots
2- Don't rush your decisions at intersections or while pulling out of parking lots
3- Don't drive faster than the speed of drivers around you
4- Keep your concentration focused on the road

TIPS FOR MOTORCYCLISTS

Wear a DOT-compliant helmet with a “FMVSS No. 218 Certified” label and use reflective tape and gear to be more visible. NHTSA estimates that helmets saved the lives of 1,872 motorcyclists in 2017. An additional 749 lives could have been saved if all motorcyclists had worn their helmets. Learn how to identify a safe, DOT-compliant helmet here https://www.nhtsa.gov/motorcycle-safety/choose-right-motorcycle-helmet.
Never ride while impaired or distracted — it is not worth the risk of killing or injuring yourself or someone else. Plus, a DUI costs $10,000 on average, and can lead to jail time, loss of your driver’s license, and higher insurance rates.
Always drive with a current motorcycle license. It’s the law. In 2019, 30% of motorcycle riders involved in fatal crashes were riding without valid motorcycle licenses.
Wear appropriate gear and clothing that makes you visible.
Ride Defensively.
Keep your riding skills honed through education. Motorcycle Ohio offers several courses for new, intermediate, and more advances riders.

Motorcycle Safety Resources:

Motorcycle Ohio

Motorcycle Operator Manual

NHTSA Rider Safety

Safe Communities Objectives:

- Work with law enforcement agencies, local governments, schools, businesses, advocacy organizations and community members to reduce traffic injuries.
- 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 motorists.
- Create a safe communities coalition and hold quarterly meetings
- Conduct fatal data reviews to identify patterns or trends that could increase impact of traffic safety countermeasures.

You should join the Safe Communities Coalition 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.

For more information please contact Kelly Snyder at (330) 343-5555 x 182 or ksnyder@tchdnow.org

2021 Tuscarawas County Safe Communities Coalition Meetings
*All meetings begin at 1:00pm

Wednesday, February 24th
Wednesday, May 26th
Wednesday, August 25th
Wednesday, November 17th

Safe Communities is a federal traffic safety grant through the Ohio Traffic Safety Office (OTSO) and has been awarded to the Tuscarawas County Health Department for the fifth year in a row.

Photo Caption: Safe Communities Wendy’s Safety Day Activity at Wendy’s in Newcomerstown, (L to R) Nicole Dorsey of the Tuscarawas County Health Department, Deputy Shaffer of the Tuscarawas County Sheriff’s Office, Officer Johnson of the Newcomerstown Police Department, and Kelly Snyder & Lisa Walker, both of the Tuscarawas County Health Department.

Safe Communities of Tuscarawas County 2020 Traffic Fatality Report

From January 1, 2020 - December 31, 2020, the State Highway Patrol reports a total of 2,066 vehicle crashes investigated in Tuscarawas County. Of the 2,066 crashes investigated Tuscarawas County experienced 11 fatal crashes with 14 crash fatalities. In 2019 Tuscarawas County experienced a total of 9 fatal crashes with 10 fatalities, and 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 continues to be one of the top traffic safety priorities in our County” said Kelly Snyder, Safe Communities Program Coordinator for the Tuscarawas County Health Department. “54% of the fatal crashes in 2020 involved some type of impairment” reported Snyder. Other factors in the fatal crashes were unbelted occupants, speed, and motorcycle related crashes.
The Safe Communities Coalition is comprised of partners from various agencies and organizations in Tuscarawas County. “Our partners are critical to the success of the Safe Communities traffic safety efforts” said Snyder “every partner brings a unique perspective to the table” 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. Some events included working in many of the local high schools to educate youth about the importance of safe driving. The group also spends time educating the driving population of Tuscarawas County on impaired driving, seatbelt use, distracted driving, and motorcycle awareness.

On February 24th, 2021 members of the Safe Communities Coalition will be meeting to review the traffic fatalities from the fourth quarter of 2020 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
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2021 Tuscarawas County Crash/Traffic Data
*as of 06/28/2021 from the Ohio State Highway Patrol

Tuscarawas County does have an additional fatal crash that has not been updated on the OSHP OSTATS site as of 6/30/2021. This crash will increase the total fatal crashes for 2021 to two (2).

Tuscarawas Traffic Safety Survey 2017