Category Archives: Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over

Halloween Traffic Safety Tips

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

Safe Communities of Wood County announced today that the annual safe driving Halloween National Mobilization is October 31 and November 12016.

Halloween means parties, and parties can encourage alcohol consumption. Because of this, Safe Communities of Wood County is partnering with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration for The Halloween National Mobilization.

Plan Before You Party to Get Home Safely

You can stay safe and protect your neighbors by following these tips:

  • Plan a safe way to get home before you party because alcohol impairs judgement. You’re not going to make smart and safe choices if you’ve been drinking.
  • Designate a sober driver, call a taxi, or a call a sober friend of family member to get you home.
  • Buzzed Driving Is Drunk Driving. There’s no such thing as “I only had a couple.” If you’ve been drinking you shouldn’t be driving.
  • If you see a drunk driver on the road, contact local law enforcement when it is safe to do so.
  • If you see someone you think is about to drive while impaired, take their keys and help them get home safely.
  • If you’re caught drinking and driving you could face jail time, the loss of your driver’s license, and pay around $10,000 due to higher insurance rates, attorney fees, court costs, car towing and repairs, and lost wages due to time off from work.
  • Some people mistakenly think they can avoid a DUI by refusing to take a breath test. In many jurisdictions a refusal to take a breath test results in the loss of your driver’s license on the spot and the impoundment of your vehicle.
  • Walking impaired can be just as dangerous as drunk driving. Designate a sober friend to walk you home. In 2013, 26 percent of all pedestrian fatalities on Halloween night involved a drunk driver.

Remember, Buzzed Driving Is Drunk Driving. Stay safe and protect your neighbors by making a plan to get home without getting behind the wheel on Halloween Night if you’ve been drinking.

For More Information:

October Safe Driving Initiatives

Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over, Press Releases, RecWell, Safe Communities
Safe Communities announced today that there have been 11 fatal crashes to date compared to 13 last year at this time in Wood County.
October is a busy month for traffic safety educational efforts. The third week is both National Collegiate Alcohol Awareness Week as well as National Teen Driver Safety Week. Both weeks are marked with awareness and educational opportunities including demonstrations at BGSU using fatal vision goggles to demonstrate the effects of alcohol consumption on driving ability.
In 2015, there were three teens killed in traffic crashes. In 2016 to date, we have had two fatalities. This is two too many! In 2015 there were 303 teens injured in traffic crashes and 119 injured in 2016 to date. Let’s band together and set a good example for the teens in our lives by demonstrating proper driving habits. If we all teach teens to buckle up, hang up, and keep their heads up while driving, we can help make the balance of 2016 lower in teen fatalities and injuries and do our part to lower the same numbers in 2017.
For More Information:
* Lt. William Bowers, Ohio State Highway Patrol: 419-352-2481
* Sandy Wiechman, Safe Communities Coordinator: 419-372-9353 or swiechm@bgsu.edu

 

Dancing with the BG Stars

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

Join Wood County Safe Communities as they partner with numerous local agencies to produce the annual event – Dancing with the BG Stars.

Date: Saturday, October 22
Time: Doors Open at 6 PM, Live Performance at 7 PM
Location: Nazareth Hall
Tickets: $40 – Contact BG Chamber of Commerce: 419.353.7195
Limited to the first 350 ticket sales.

Shuttle service 5:30 – 7 PM  and from 9 PM to/from Wood County Hospital Rehabilitation Center. If you find yourself unable to drive, Wood County Safe Communities is providing a ride home within 15 miles of Bowling Green.

Proceeds used to purchase a driving simulator: Fundraising Goal – $11,000

Emcees:
Ryan Wichman – WTOL Meterologist
Mr. Francis Scruci, Superintendent BG Schools

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

 

 

 

 

 

 

Amigos Don’t Let Amigos Drive Drunk

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

In the United States, Cinco de Mayo has become synonymous with festive fiestas and salty margaritas. Historically, the fifth of May commemorates Mexico’s 1862 victory over France at the Battle of Puebla during the Franco-Mexican War. There’s no victory when partygoers drink and drive.

In 2014, there were 343 crash fatalities during the Cinco de Mayo holiday weekend (6 p.m. May 2 to 5:59 a.m. May 6). One out of these three people lost their lives in the drunk-driving crashes. 116 people could be alive today if Cinco de Mayo partygoer had designated sober drivers.

Over the 2014 Cinco de Mayo holiday period, almost one-fifth (18%) of drivers in fatal crashes had BACs of .15 or higher which is almost twice the legal limit in every states.

Twenty-five percent of drivers in 2014 Cinco de Mayo holiday fatal crashes had BACs of .08 or higher. During this same weekend, only 70 percent of drivers in fatal crashes were completely sober (with .00 BAC).

Cinco de Mayo holiday period drunk-driving fatalities have decreased slightly from 90 in 2012 (45% of all crash fatalities), to 65 in 2013 (40% of all crash fatalities), to 33 people in 2014 (33% of all crash fatalities).

Do your part to make your Cinco de Mayo safe. Designate a driver, call a friend, or call a cab. Amigos don’t let Amigos drive drunk.

For More Information:

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