All posts by lona

About lona

BGSU Recreation and Wellness, Assistant Director

Back to School Bus Stop Safety

Press Releases, RecWell, Safe Communities, WellAware, Youth and Family

It is time to head back to school. Safe Communities of Wood County wants everyone’s travel to and from school to be safe. As school comes back in session, local roads become busier with school buses and cars as parents or guardians drive children to school, adding to existing traffic and daily work commuters.

Following are tips to keep children safe this school year:

  • According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the safest way to get to and from school is by riding on a school bus. Encourage children to ride the bus if living in a bus route.
  • Accompany children and model the proper way to wait for the bus.
  • Arrive early and wait in front of where the bus picks up.
  • Look for the bus driver to the student onto the bus – whether with eye contact or a wave.
  • Always use sidewalks if walking to or from school.

For more information regarding bus stop and back to school safety, contact Safe Communities of Wood County at 419.372.9353 or check the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s website at http://www.nhtsa.gov/

Keep in mind these school bus safety tips and do your part to make this school year a fantastic and safe one for all local children!

For More Information:

  • William Bowers, Ohio State Highway Patrol: 419-352-2481
  • Sandy Wiechman, Safe Communities Coordinator: 419-372-9353 or swiechm@bgsu.edu

July 4th Safe Driving Tips

Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over, Press Releases, RecWell, Safe Communities

The Fourth of July is a holiday often filled with family, friends, fireworks, and fun as Americans celebrate the country’s independence. Parties surrounding this theme often involve the serving of alcohol, making awareness of impaired driving and the potential for fatal crashes an important consideration.

In Wood County in 2015 there were 28 total crashes during the holiday weekend, with 9 injuries. Fortunately on the Fourth of July in 2015 there were zero (0) alcohol related crashes.

If choosing to drink this Fourth of July, remember not to drive. There are plenty of options to get home safely this holiday, such as calling a cab or a friend. Keep others and yourself safe this Fourth of July and remember not to drive if consuming alcohol.

Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over.

For More Information:

  • Jerrod Savidge, Ohio State Highway Patrol: 419-352-2481
  • Sandy Wiechman, Safe Communities Coordinator:
    419-372-9353 or swiechm@bgsu.edu

 

 

 

 

 

 

Safe Communities Announces Fatal Crash Statistics

Press Releases, RecWell, Safe Communities

Wood County Safe Communities announced today that there have been 5 fatal crashes this year to date, a decrease of 5 from this time last year.

Wood County Safe Communities also received data involving commercial vehicle crashes from 2015 in Wood County. Last year, commercial vehicles were involved in 20% of fatal crashes, and 15% of serious injury crashes. Commercial vehicles have been involved in 1 fatal crash this year to date. This is a decrease from last year to date where 7 commercial vehicles were involved in fatal crashes.

It is important to remember to share the road with other drivers. Wood County Safe Communities encourages everyone, including commercial vehicle drivers, to remember the laws, and pay attention while driving. Awareness of commercial vehicles, allowing extra space between drivers, and practicing safe driving habits can save a life!

For More Information:

  • Jerrod Savidge, Ohio State Highway Patrol: 419-352-2481
  • Sandy Wiechman, Safe Communities Coordinator:
    419-372-9353 or swiechm@bgsu.edu

Safe Communities Releases Fatal Crash Data

Press Releases, RecWell, Safe Communities

Wood County Safe Communities announced today there have been four fatal crashes in Wood County compared to nine last year at this time.  This is a decrease of five crashes to date.

Safe Communities is also releasing other final statistics from 2015 fatal and serious injury car crashes.

Older driver (recognized as people over the age of 65) involvement in crashes was the top cause of fatalities last year in the category of high risk driving behaviors. Older drivers were involved in 37% of fatalities related to driving and 28% of all serious injury vehicular crashes.

In Wood County in 2015, intersection crashes accounted for 28% of fatalities and were the top contributor of serious injuries. Fixed object crashes were the cause of 26% of serious injury accidents and 30% of all fatalities.

Drivers of all ages are reminded to be aware of these alarming statistics and encouraged to do their part to reduce crashes throughout the remainder of 2016 by buckling up and obeying all traffic laws.

For More Information:

  • Lt. Jerrod Savidge, Ohio State Highway Patrol: 419-352-2481
  • Sandy Wiechman, Safe Communities Coordinator:
    419-372-9353 or swiechm@bgsu.edu

Click it or Ticket Kick Off

Press Releases, RecWell, Safe Communities

Wood County Safe Communities Coalition invites you to their fourth annual Click it or Ticket Campaign kickoff. This event is planned at the Perrysburg Wal-Mart at 10400 Fremont Pike on Friday, May 20, 2016 from 4:30-7:00  PM and is sponsored by the Perrysburg Wal-Mart, and Perrysburg Chick-Fil-A.

The Click it or Ticket campaign educates individuals on the importance of wearing a seatbelt while operating a motor vehicle. Law-enforcement agencies are on hand to reward drivers and passengers for being buckled up and numerous displays and safety demonstrations are scheduled.

“Every day, unbuckled motorists are losing their lives in motor vehicle crashes. In Wood County alone, 45% of unbelted vehicle occupants died in 2015. That is up 5% from 2014” said Sandy Wiechman, coordinator of Safe Communities of Wood County. “As we approach Memorial Day weekend and the summer vacation season, we want to make sure people are doing the one thing that can save them in a crash, buckling up.”

According to the Ohio Department of Public Safety, 1,110 fatal crashes occurred in 2015 in Ohio with 46% of occupants unbuckled. The main focus of the Click It or Ticket campaign is seat-belt education and awareness.

“If you ask the family members of those unrestrained people who were killed in crashes, they’ll tell you—they wish their loved ones had buckled up,” added Wiechman. “The bottom line is that seat belts save lives. If these enforcement and education crackdowns get people’s attention and get them to buckle up, then we’ve done our job.”

For More Information:
Lt. Jerrod Savidge, Ohio State Highway Patrol
419-352-2481

Sandy Wiechman, Safe Communities Coordinator
419-372-9353 or swiechm@bgsu.edu