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.

Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over National Mobilization

The 2021 “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” impaired driving national enforcement mobilization goes into effect from August 18th to September 6th, 2021. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), impaired driving is one of the deadliest and most often committed– yet preventable—of crimes, and has become a serious safety epidemic in our country.

Below are some sobering National statistics from NHTSA:

Approximately one-third of all traffic crash fatalities in the United States involve drunk drivers (with BACs at or above .08).
In 2019, there were 10,142 people killed in drunk-driving crashes.
In 2019, one person was killed every 52 minutes in a drunk-driving crash on our nation’s roads.
Of the traffic fatalities in 2019 among children 14 and younger, 19% (204) occurred in alcohol-impaired-driving crashes.
Among the 10,142 alcohol impaired driving fatalities in 2019, 68% (6,872) were in crashes in which at least one driver had a BAC of .15 or higher.

Unfortunately, in Tuscarawas County 54% of the fatal crashes in 2020 involved some type of impairment.

TCHD, Safe Communities of Tuscarawas County, and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration would like to remind you to 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 - Drunk Driving

NHTSA- Drug Impaired Driving

NHTSA- Impaired Driving- Prescription and Over the Counter Drugs

NHTSA- El Manejo Bajo la Influencia de las Drogas

Cash prizes to be offered for Safe Driving Billboard Design Contest

Dover- The Tuscarawas County Health Department’s Safe Communities Program has been awarded a $5000 Safe Driving Grant from State Farm®. The purpose of the grant is to offer a Distracted Driving Awareness Billboard Design Challenge to all local high school students.

Through the generous support and partnership of Lisa Hoy and Lindsay Adam of State Farm®, Safe Communities of Tuscarawas County and State Farm® are challenging area high school students to create a public service announcement billboard to educate drivers about the dangers of distracted driving.

Students are encouraged to create their own billboard artwork via graphic design, drawings, painting, photography, etc. A panel of judges will select the winning entries based on relevance, aesthetic quality, creativity, originality, and a strong distracted driving theme. The winners will be selected and announced at a presentation assisted by the Ohio State Highway Patrol.

Artwork from the two winning entries will be featured on Tuscarawas County billboards for everyone to see and on the Tuscarawas County Health Department website and social media pages. The students who create the winning displays will receive a $250 cash prize and an additional $250 will be given to the high school attended by the students.

Official rules and participation information have been distributed to all the Tuscarawas County High Schools. The deadline for students to submit entries to their high school is Wednesday, September 22nd, 2021.

If you have any questions, please contact Kelly Snyder, Tuscarawas County Health Department Safe Communities Coordinator, at 330-343-5555 X 182 or via e-mail at ksnyder@tchdnow.org.

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Distracted Driving Billboard Contest Rules/ Permission Form

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.

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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