General News

No Traffic Fatalities for the Month of June!

Good news for Traffic Safety Advocates, and good news for those who travel in Pickaway County. In a review of statistics for traffic crashes for the past month, Pickaway County had a fatal-free June. With the summer season underway, and the many special events in and around Pickaway County, Safe Communities of Pickaway County congratulates the community on making safety a priority on our roadways.

“Although there were no fatalities for the month of June, we at Safe Communities continue to recommend that motorists ‘Buckle Up Every Trip Every Time’, and make sure safe speed limits are observed while traveling throughout the summer”, noted Teresa C. Carper, Director for the Program. “As the summer season continues, Safe Communities will continue to promote safe driving habits and remind drivers that they need to ‘Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over’ each time they plan for a special event or party.”

The National Mobilization on Impaired Driving will be held in August, and law enforcement will have extra patrols out through Labor Day.

Many drivers may notice that with the great weather, there are plenty of motorcyclists on our roadways. A recent study released to Safe Communities of Pickaway County showed that motorcycle safety awareness needs to be a priority in reducing injuries and fatalities. Motorcyclists need to make sure they are following all safety precautions, and other motorists need to “Watch Out for Motorcycles” while sharing the road.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has a website with information regarding all types of safety tips for motorists at www.nhtsa.gov . Safe Communities recommends we all work to keep up the good work and the good news, and make this a safe and fatal-free summer.

A review of statistics for traffic crashes for the month of May shows that once again Pickaway County has added another fatality to the overall total for the year. Unfortunately, the number of fatalities are increasing in Pickaway County. Safe Communities of Pickaway County continues to promote traffic safety, and use educational tools to make drivers, passengers, and pedestrians aware that safety needs to be a priority every day. A recent survey taken in the community just prior to the recent “Click It or Ticket” National Seat Belt Campaign, proved that the lack of seat belt use remains an issue in Pickaway County. Although there are many reasons as to why a fatality may occur on our roadways, the lack of seat belt use has proven deadly over the past several years.

“Pickaway County will undergo surveys this month to see what our seat belt use rate is overall”, noted Director for Safe Communities of Pickaway County Teresa C. Carper. “I encourage driver to buckle up this month, and continue to ‘Buckle Up Every Trip Every Time’ in order to improve our injury and fatality rate in this community. Pickaway County has continued to have one of the lowest seat belt use rates in the State.”

As the summer months continue, drivers also need to be aware that distractions are not unusual. However, when you add cell phone use and texting to the normal distractions that all drivers experience, the likelihood of a crash increases. With children out of school, pedestrians and bicyclists added to our streets, and the increase in motorcycles on our roadways, added distractions can prove deadly. No one every plans to injure another person when they answer their phone or send a text. But statistically, cell phone use and texting have added to the overall crash, injury, and fatality rate nationwide. Many of those injured or killed have been innocent victims. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration asks you to “Stay Alive Don’t Text and Drive”. Learn more about the hazards of distracted driving, and the importance of seat belt use at their website, www.nhtsa.gov .

A Committee formed within the Safe Communities of Pickaway County program reviewed the fatalities for the months of January through March 2014. The Committee looked at three fatalities that occurred during this period in order to make recommendations to improve safety on Pickaway County roadways.

The Committee noted that although the lack of seat belt use did not play the significant role that it has played in past reviews, it did play a role in one of the fatalities reviewed. Impaired driving was also a concern in another crash, and has remained a matter of discussion in previous reviews. US 23, and the intersections near Circleville, have had a significant number of crashes and fatalities over the past several years. The Pickaway County Sheriff’s Office is continuing to work with other Sheriffs’ Offices along the highway in an effort to reduce crashes and fatalities. “Project S.T.A.R.” is a coordinated program involving 7 Sheriff Offices along US 23 to increase enforcement. The group plans to work together within the program throughout the summer months.

The Committee also discussed the recent “Click It or Ticket” mobilization, and was provided information that indicates that seat belt use in Pickaway County is not improving. Seat belt use is the number one way to improve a person’s chances of surviving a crash. Pickaway County has continued to struggle in this effort, and the number of fatalities that involved a driver or passenger without a seatbelt is the reason for the continued concern. The Safe Communities Program will continue to promote seatbelt use, while enforcement of seat belt laws will be a priority of many law enforcement officials.

The Committee will continue to monitor the reasons for crashes, and make recommendations for the improvement of safety throughout Pickaway County.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration provides a variety of suggestions and information to help reduce crashes and save lives. For more information on traffic safety, visit their website at www.nhtsa.gov .

Westfall High School Wins Seat Belt Challenge 2014

The nationally known campaign for seat belt use was the highlight of an awards ceremony held at Westfall High School on May 20, 2014. “Click It or Ticket”, the National Enforcement for seat belt use runs now through June 1, 2014. The campaign includes law enforcement and increased patrols to enforce seat belt laws, as well as traffic safety advocates promoting the safety benefits of “Buckling Up Every Trip Every Time”. In Pickaway County, the Sheriff’s Office will join other law enforcement, and use the High Visibility Enforcement grant to add extra patrols to promote seat belt use. Also, Safe Communities will work with local schools and area agencies to note the importance of seat belt use, and safety for drivers and passengers inside a motor vehicle.

“The use of a seatbelt is the number one way you can increase your safety while driving or riding in a motor vehicle”, stated Sheriff Robert Radcliff. “We applaud our younger drivers for their continued efforts to be safer on our roadways, and recommend that all drivers follow their lead and ‘Buckle Up Day and Night’. We also thank Westfall High School for allowing us to use their location for our kick-off event for this mobilization.”

Westfall High School was chosen for the location of the kick-off event due to their win of the annual “Seat Belt Challenge”. Each year, all Pickaway County schools compete to win the overall title through three seat belt surveys, the schools involvement in traffic safety education, and the overall improvement of seat belt use. If students are seen using a cell phone during the survey, the school loses points toward the overall points in the contest.

“We are pleased to announce that Westfall High School is our overall winner this year. This school was in last place for our survey in 2010, but they have made great strides to promote safety, and have steadily increased their seat belt use”, stated Teresa C. Carper, Director for Safe Communities of Pickaway County. “We hope we see our students to continue to encourage others to buckle up, and applaud their efforts to stay safe on our roadways.”

Survey results this year show an overall increase of 28% in use rate among local teens since the first survey taken in November 2010. Logan Elm came in second place this year, followed by last year’s winner Circleville High School, and two time winner Teays Valley High School.

For more information on “Click It or Ticket”, and the importance of seat belt use, visit the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration website at www.nhtsa.gov .

Issued by The National Weather Service
Cincinnati/Wilmington, OH

Wed, May 14, 2014, 1:25 PM EDT

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HAS ISSUED TORNADO WATCH 155 IN EFFECT UNTIL 9 PM EDT THIS EVENING FOR THE FOLLOWING AREAS

IN INDIANA THIS WATCH INCLUDES 3 COUNTIES

IN SOUTHEAST INDIANA

DEARBORN OHIO SWITZERLAND

IN KENTUCKY THIS WATCH INCLUDES 12 COUNTIES

IN NORTHEAST KENTUCKY

LEWIS MASON

IN NORTHERN KENTUCKY

BOONE BRACKEN CAMPBELL CARROLL GALLATIN GRANT KENTON OWEN PENDLETON ROBERTSON

IN OHIO THIS WATCH INCLUDES 26 COUNTIES

IN CENTRAL OHIO

DELAWARE FAIRFIELD FAYETTE OH FRANKLIN OH HOCKING LICKING MADISON PICKAWAY ROSS UNION OH

IN MIAMI VALLEY OF OHIO

CHAMPAIGN CLARK GREENE MONTGOMERY

IN SOUTH CENTRAL OHIO

ADAMS BROWN HIGHLAND PIKE SCIOTO

IN SOUTHWEST OHIO

BUTLER CLERMONT CLINTON HAMILTON WARREN

IN WEST CENTRAL OHIO

HARDIN LOGAN

THIS INCLUDES THE CITIES OF… ALEXANDRIA… BATAVIA… BELLEFONTAINE… BROOKSVILLE… BURLINGTON… CARROLLTON… CHILLICOTHE… CINCINNATI… CIRCLEVILLE… COLUMBUS… COVINGTON… DAYTON… DELAWARE… FALMOUTH… GEORGETOWN… HAMILTON… HILLSBORO… KENTON… LANCASTER… LAWRENCEBURG… LEBANON… LOGAN… LONDON… MARYSVILLE… MASON… MAYSVILLE… MOUNT OLIVET… NEWARK… OWENTON… PIKETON… PORTSMOUTH… RISING SUN… SPRINGFIELD… URBANA… VANCEBURG… VEVAY… WARSAW… WASHINGTON COURT HOUSE… WEST UNION… WILLIAMSTOWN… WILMINGTON AND XENIA.