Special to 1808Delaware
The SAFE Delaware County Coalition is reminding drivers about the lifesaving benefits of wearing a seat belt during the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s (NHTSA) national Click It or Ticket high-visibility enforcement effort. The national seat belt campaign, which coincides with the Memorial Day holiday, runs from May 23 – June 5, 2022.
This year’s SAFE Coalition Click It or Ticket kick-off event is planned for 12pm on Friday, May 20, 2022 at Peterson Plaza located next to the Delaware County Courthouse.
This year’s event does not feature a typical “saved by the belt” speaker. Tammy Bellios Penter is a Delaware County resident and mother. Over 30 years ago she was in a life-altering traffic crash which almost took her life due to not wearing a seat belt. Tammy will share how her life took a whole different trajectory of struggle and heartbreak because she was not buckled up. More…
Special to 1808Delaware
The Westerville Division of Police and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration are reminding residents to “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” and “If You Feel Different, You Drive Different- Drive High, Get a DUI.” The national campaigns center around educating the public about the risks and severe consequences of driving while impaired.
According to the NHTSA, even one alcoholic beverage can impair reasoning and muscle coordination. That means just one drink can impair your ability to safely drive. More…
By 1808Delaware
It’s a bit counterintuitive, perhaps. At the same time that many Ohio counties have seen substantial increases in Ohio State Highway Patrol traffic enforcement activity in 2021, Delaware County’s numbers are running relatively constant, year-to-date.
The increase statewide may be due to a traffic increase related to the reopening of the economy after 2020’s economic shutdown.
In Delaware County, enforcement stops are actually down, from 7,505 in 2020 to 6,924 this year.
Featured, Ohio State Highway Patrol, Traffic, Traffic Safety
Ohio Governor Mike DeWine has announced details of a new bill that would strengthen Ohio’s laws regarding the use of wireless devices, including smartphones, while driving.
The new Hands-Free Ohio bill is sponsored by Sen. Stephanie Kunze (R-Hilliard) and Sen. Sean J. O’Brien (D-Bazetta).
“The use of wireless devices while driving has become so common that many drivers don’t stop to consider the deadly consequences,” said Governor DeWine. “Although Ohio’s current laws are well-intended, they simply haven’t gone far enough to change the culture around using technology behind the wheel. By strengthening Ohio’s laws, we believe we can change behaviors, prevent crashes, and save lives.” More…
The Ohio Department of Public Safety’s (ODPS) Ohio Traffic Safety Office (OTSO) awarded $50,000 in federal traffic safety funding to the Delaware General Health District’s traffic safety coalition Safety Awareness for Everyone Delaware County (SAFE) for federal fiscal year 2020.
“Partnerships are critical to the success of any safety effort and we are committed to working with safety partners to address traffic safety concerns in Delaware County,” said SAFE Coordinator Jackie Bain. More…
Motorists traveling through downtown Powell will soon see signs in place to prohibit left turns from 7 AM – 7 PM daily at the Olentangy and Liberty Street intersection. The signs are expected to be installed by the City’s Public Service Department early next week, weather permitting.
Powell City Council unanimously approved an ordinance to extend the time frame for restricted left turns at the intersection from 7 AM – 7 PM daily. More…
The SAFE Delaware County coalition will kick off its annual Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over campaign on Thursday, August 15 at 10:30 AM at MC Fitness Center, 7100 Graphics Way in Lewis Center.
This year, the kick-off event will feature Delaware County Prosecutor Melissa Schiffel along with Lt. Eric Caudill of the Ohio State Highway Patrol Delaware Post. Prosecutor Schiffel will speak on impaired driver convictions while Lt. Caudill will touch on the importance of driving sober after an OSP Trooper was hit by a drunk driver in July. More…
Delaware County Prosecutor's Office, Featured, Traffic Safety
The Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission (MORPC) has released its Top 100 Regional High-Crash Intersections list for 2018. Ranking of intersections is based on a formula that considers number of crashes, traffic volume and severity over the three-year period 2015-2017. MORPC produces the list on an annual basis to help local and regional partners better understand crash patterns that occur and help prioritize transportation safety investments. More…
Having become law on October 29, House Bill 95 establishes Ohio’s unique approach of combating distracted driving by enhancing existing moving violations.
For example, law enforcement officers no longer will need to prove a driver is texting, but only that a moving violation has occurred and the driver was distracted at the time. More…
With the new month, the Ohio Highway Patrol has released year-to-date information about Delaware County traffic. Those numbers suggest that there has been a modest but real downturn in both fatal crashes and the number of traffic-related stops and violations. More…