General News

A quarterly review with a committee of the Safe Communities of Pickaway County program was held this week to discuss the one traffic fatality that occurred in the second quarter of the calendar year 2014. The fatality which occurred on US 23, sparked the ongoing discussion of safety along the stretch of highway that includes Pittsburgh Road, and the area around local businesses near Sperry Drive. Due to the increase in the speed limit along that stretch of highway, local law enforcement has voiced an ongoing concern for crashes, injuries, and fatalities. Ohio law allowed the change in speed limit, however the number of crashes and fatalities over the last several months has brought the discussion of safety to the forefront of the committee’s list of concerns.

“We have a good working relationship with the Ohio Department of Transportation, and a representative from the District 6 Office is a part of our committee”, stated Teresa C. Carper, Safe Communities Director. “Due to the Circleville portion of US 23 being a part of a rural area, the law states that this area is to have a speed limit of 65 mph. However, due to law enforcement concerns, surveys, enforcement, and other suggestions have been discussed to improve safety.”

Past discussions of the committee has included seat belt use. A majority of the fatalities over the past few years had involved a driver or a passenger that was not wearing a seat belt. Pickaway County has had one of the worst seat belt use rates in Ohio, and it is believed that many of the fatal crashes may have had a different outcome if the driver or passenger had simply buckled up.

Finally, and especially during the summer months, the concern for bicycle and pedestrian safety should be a priority according to the Fatal Review Committee members. The message that everyone needs to SHARE THE ROAD, will help prevent a tragedy. Pedestrians especially should remember that motor vehicles need to have time to stop if and when they see someone or something in their path. Depending on the rate of speed, it can take several feet for a motor vehicle to stop. Never guess what your safety is when crossing a busy roadway.

The next major mobilization will be the “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” campaign. Pickaway County will kick off the safety enforcement period on August 13, 2014 with the annual “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” Law Enforcement Awards. Other activities will be planned, and local businesses will be asked to help the community stay safe by promoting the message.

Safe Communities of Pickaway County is a grant funded program through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and the Ohio Traffic Safety Office. The program continues to promote safety messages and provides education to improve overall safety on local roadways, and decrease the number of lives lost through motor vehicle crashes. Information on traffic safety can be found at www.nhtsa.gov

A Holiday filled with fireworks, picnics, festivals, and special events is upon us, and Safe Communities of Pickaway County encourages everyone to plan ahead for safety this Fourth of July. The National Campaign of “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” will be observed here in our community with increased patrols on our roadways. Local law enforcement will join other agencies across the state, and nationwide, to make sure this Holiday remains safe. The Fourth of July can be one of the deadliest times of the year due to the number of persons who choose to drive impaired. The solution…..designate a sober driver long before the fun begins.

“Pickaway County has had its share of impaired driving crashes and fatalities over the past several years. Thanks to local law enforcement, many of the Holiday weekends have remained fairly safe”, noted Teresa C. Carper, Director for the Safe Communities of Pickaway County program. “However, with the increase in special events here and nearby, there will be more vehicles on the roadways. Please think of your safety and the safety of others before you get behind the wheel impaired.”

The “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” campaign is promoted nationwide by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Through their website at www.nhtsa.gov , you can view the risks of driving impaired, and suggestions for improving your safety when traveling in a motor vehicle. Safe Communities has been a part of local events this Spring and Summer to promote a variety of safety messages such as “Click It or Ticket” and “Ride S.M.A.R.T.” . Seat belt use is extremely important, and Safe Communities recommends you “Buckle Up Every Trip Every Time”. Furthermore, the summer months increases travel by motorcycles. Traffic Safety Advocates remind all drivers to “Share the Road” and “Watch Out for Motorcycles” during the summer and all year long.

This Fourth of July remember that “Friends Don’t Let Friends Drive Drunk”, and report any driver that appears impaired to local law enforcement immediately.

Motorcycle Safety Awareness should be a priority every day…….if you are a rider, or if you are a driver sharing the road. National “Ride to Work Day” is a reminder that safety for motorcycles should be a priority all year long, and riders are encouraged to share this view and ride their motorcycle to work on June 16th to show their support. As a rider, certain safety measures should become a habit each and every time you take to the road. For other drivers, making sure you give motorcycles the same rights as other motor vehicles will go a long way to reducing crashes and deaths on our roadways.

Distracted Driving has become a major awareness theme for traffic safety advocates. This concern increases during the warmer months of the year when motorcycles become more prevalent on the road. Making sure you see all that you need to see when you are behind the wheel, and that includes motorcycles, can save a life. Furthermore, it is important to remember that motorcyclists need a full lane length. Although motorcycles are smaller vehicles, they need room to maneuver safely.

As a rider, make sure you “Ride S.M.A.R.T.” . Always ride Sober, Motorcycle endorsed, Alert, with the Right gear, and Trained. Riders need to make sure they follow all the same traffic laws as all other road users, wear an approved DOT helmet, and limit distractions. Motorcycle riding can be, and is, a great way to travel if safety measures are observed. In 2012, 4957 persons were killed in motorcycle crashes nationwide. In Pickaway County, the number of injuries and deaths over the past several years has made this type of traffic safety initiative a priority of the Safe Communities of Pickaway County program, and law enforcement alike. Making sure riders and other road users respect each other, the laws, and the road, can reduce crashes and traffic related deaths significantly.

So “Ride to Work” this June 16th, and show your support for safety on our roadways. As for other road users…… “Watch Out for Motorcycles” on June 16th and every day you travel.

For more information on motorcycle safety, and other traffic safety initiatives, visit the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration website at www.nhtsa.gov .

An award started several years ago has a continued tradition in Pickaway County. The “Saved By the Belt Award” is an award that goes to an individual who made the choice to simply buckle up, and was the reason for their survival in a motor vehicle crash. These awards have been a part of the “Click It or Ticket” enforcement period for the last several years in Pickaway County, and this year is no exception. Teays Valley High School senior Cody Redman received the award during the school’s annual awards ceremony. Redman was involved in a motor vehicle crash on March 30, 2014, where his vehicle was totaled after rolling several times. Mr. Redman escaped injury due in part to his actions of simply wearing a seat belt. The purpose of the award is to present living proof that seat belts do save lives.

Redman and fellow senior Justin Donaldson also received the “Award of Merit” from Sheriff Robert Radcliff for their service to the traffic safety industry by creating a video asking students to not drive distracted. The video won the AAA Ohio Outstanding Public Service Announcement award this past March. Redman was also instrumental in the kick off for Motorcycle Awareness Month in Pickaway County. Finally, Sheriff Robert Radcliff also honored Tina Bobek. Bobek, the nurse at Teays Valley High School as well as a Safe Communities Coalition member and Teen Institute Advisor, has been a driving force for the promotion of teen traffic safety.

“It is always an honor and a privilege to work with students in the promotion of traffic safety”, stated Safe Communities Director Teresa C. Carper. “Students promoting the safety message to their peers is the best was to get the message out, and hopefully save lives.”

Traffic related deaths are the number one killer of teens in the United States. The lack of seat belt use has also played a role in a large number of highway deaths, especially here in Pickaway County. Through the promotion of “Click It or Ticket”, and recognizing those who have been “Saved By the Belt”, Safe Communities of Pickaway County asks that other take four seconds and improve their chance of survival in a crash by 50%.

With the Memorial Day Holiday upon us, and the summer season just ahead, it is important to remember to “Buckle Up Every Trip Every Time”. For more information on seat belt statistics and other traffic safety related issues, visit the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration at www.nhtsa.gov .

As an ongoing effort to provide the best services to the citizens of Pickaway County; we have deployed a new feature on our website that displays calls for service information in near-real-time. You can filter by call types and retrieve up to 2 week prior records on all calls for service to the Pickaway County Sheriff’s Office. Look for the new tab on our site labeled Calls For Service on the top navigation bar or under Public Services tab. This feature is laptop, tablet and smart phone screen viewing friendly.

CLICKHERE TO VIEW CALLS FOR SERVICE