Category Archives: RecWell

Wood County Crash Statistics for January – June 2017

Press Releases, RecWell, Safe Communities

Wood County Safe Communities announced today that there have been eight fatal crashes in Wood County for calendar year 2017, compared to five for the same time frame in 2016. This is an increase of three crashes.

Listed below is an overview of the crash statistics for January – May 2017 for Wood County:

  • 267 injury crashes
  • 974 property damage crashes
  • 19% of crashes happen on Friday
  • 9% of crashes happen at 3 pm
  • 25% of crashes are to a fixed object
  • 43% are on a clear day
  • 61% are during daylight hours
  • 63% are on dry roads
  • 9% involve deer

We encourage you to continue your safe driving habits so everyone makes it home safe. #drivesafeohio

For More Information:

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

Pre-Fireworks at the Field House – July 3, 8 PM

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

This year, as we celebrate our country’s birthday, thousands of families take to their cars, driving to neighborhood cookouts, family picnics, and other summer festivities. Sadly, some of those families’ Independence Day will end in tragedy, as too many irresponsible people decide to drink and drive. Unfortunately, their bad choices have lasting effects on families.

For as many good memories as the Fourth of July holiday can provide, it can also create devastating nightmares for families who lose a loved one due to drunk driving. During the 2015 Fourth of July holiday period (6 p.m. July 2 to 5:59 a.m. July 6), 92 people were killed in motor vehicle crashes involving a driver or motorcycle operator with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of .15 or higher, and 146 people died in crashes involving at least one driver or motorcycle operator with a BAC of .08. In fact, from 2011-2015, 39 percent of all traffic fatalities over the Fourth of July period occurred in alcohol-impaired-driving crashes.

Join us for a family friendly event on July 3, 2017 at the Perry Field House Parking Lot beginning at 8 PM. Enjoy games, prizes, and the chance to interact with Bowling Green Fire and EMS plus officers from the Bowling Green State University Police Department.  Activities continue until the fireworks begin at 10 PM.

Have a safe and enjoyable 4th of July.  Please designate a driver and make it home safe.

For More Information:

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

Avoid Heatstroke in a Hot Car

Press Releases, RecWell, Safe Communities

Wood County Safe Communities announced today that there have been 7 fatal crashes in Wood County for calendar year 2017, compared to 4 for the same time frame in 2016.

Outside of crashes, heatstroke is the number one vehicle-related killer of children in the United States. In fact, in 2016, there were 39 preventable deaths of children in vehicles, a 63% increase from 2015.

Simple steps for caregivers to prevent heatstroke:

  • NEVER leave a child in a vehicle unattended. Even for a minute.
  • Make it a habit to look in the back seat when exiting the car – EVERY time.
  • ALWAYS lock the care and put the keys out of reach of children.

Simple steps for bystanders to prevent heatstroke:

  • Make sure the child is okay and responsive. If not, call 911 immediately.
  • If the child appears to be okay, attempt to locate the parents or have the facility’s security or management page the car owner over the PA system.
  • If there is someone with you, have one person actively search for the parent while the other waits at the car.
  • If the child is not responsive or appears to be in distress, attempt to get into the car to assist the child – even if that means breaking a window.

A child’s body temperature can rise up to five times faster than an adult, and heatstroke can occur with outside temperatures as low as 57 degrees. On an 80-degree day, a car can reach a deadly heat level in just about 10 minutes.

Look Before You Lock!

For More Information:

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

Keep Our Motorcyclists Alive

Press Releases, RecWell, Safe Communities

 

share the road-web

Motorists can help make the roads safer for motorcyclists by taking some simple precautions.

  • Typically, motorcyclists are more inclined to take to the road on weekends, meaning it is even more important to stay alert and be extra cautious.
  • Allow ample space for the motorcyclist to maneuver and react if necessary; always follow three or more seconds behind.
  • Never attempt to share the lane with a motorcycle.
  • Motorcycles can be heard to see; look for them by double checking your mirrors and blind spots before switching to another lane of traffic.
  • Always signal before changing lanes or merging with traffic; this allows motorcyclists time to anticipate your movement and find a safe lane position.
  • If a turn signal is on, wait to be sure the rider is going to turn before you proceed; it may not be self-canceling and the motorcyclist may have forgotten to turn it off.

Remember, safety is a shared responsibility –– do your part.

To learn more traffic safety tips visit the Safe Communities website.

Stay in Control: Avoid Potentially Fatal Risks

Distracted Driving, RecWell, Safe Communities

Distracted driving is always a problem, but combining motorcyclists and distracted drivers can be fatal. While riding a motorcycle, it is critical to stay aware and vigilant of your surroundings always. Motorcycles can quickly get caught in a motorist’s blind spot because they are smaller than most vehicles. Since they may be hard to see, it is even more important to stay alert and look twice.

Distracted driving also poses a serious threat to motorcyclists. Reaction time is delayed a few seconds when texting and driving or messing with anything in the vehicle. This delayed reaction contributes to a larger risk of fatal collision with a motorcycle.

Motorcyclists also increase the risk of a fatal collision when they take their hands off the motorcycle handlebars. According to Seeker Digital Network, taking your hands off the handlebars reduces your control over the motorcycle more than if you took your hands off a car’s steering wheel; steering, braking, accelerating, and shifting are all comprised

There are many suggestions to decrease the risk of fatal motorcycle collisions. One method is to complete a motorcycle safety course. Wood County and the state of Ohio do not require extra safety courses for motorcyclists, but Safe Communities of Wood County highly recommends taking one. The course will teach you about the state traffic safety laws that apply to motorcycles, how to avoid unsafe situations, and how to respond to emergency situations on a motorcycle. Course instructors will also provide tips on motorcycle maintenance. You will even have a chance to try out your new skills in a controlled environment. For registration and more information: http://www.motorcycle.ohio.gov/.

Finally, we recommend always watching the weather for adverse driving conditions and wearing the proper protection gear at all times.

To learn more traffic safety tips visit the Safe Communities website.