Category Archives: Safe Communities

ODOT Update Courtesy of Wood County Safe Communities

Safe Communities
Interstate 75 Construction
  • From now through November, I-75 will be reduced to ONE LANE between Perrysburg and Findlay (Co. Rd. 99) between 7 pm and 6 am
  • From now through December, I-75 will be ONE LANE from ROACHTON RD. AND ROUTE 20 (Northern part of the county)
  • Through 2016, I75 will be TWO LANES from Route 20 to I-475
  • Through 2016, 11’ lane restrictions will be from Route 20 to Findlay (Co. Rd. 99)
  • June 9 at 8 pm to June 10 and 6 am, redirection of traffic will begin.  ONE LANE will be open will be open during these hours
  • June 10, Midnight to 5:00 am – the ramp from southbound I-75 to the BG Exit will be CLOSED.  It will reopen at 5:00 am.
  • Through December 2015 the ramp from Southbound I-75 to Westbound I-475 will be reduced to ONE LANE
  • The ramp from Eastbound I-475 to Northbound I75 is PERMANENTLY reduced to ONE LANE
LOCAL CHANGES:
June 15 through October, Jerry City Road at I-75 will be closed for bridge work
 
 

One Text or Call Could Wreck It All

Distracted Driving, Press Releases, Safe Communities

PRESS RELEASE
April, 2015

Wood County Safe Communities announced today that there have been three fatal crashes in Wood County for calendar year 2015, compared to two for the same time period in 2014.

In an effort to make our roads safer, Wood County Safe Communities announced today that it continues to promote is continuing to promote the “One Text or Call Could Wreck It All” campaign to stop distracted driving. Wood County Safe Communities has pledged its support to help spread the message that distracted drivers are not only a danger to themselves, but everyone else on the road.

“We all know that talking on our cell phones while driving is distracting, but that doesn’t stop most people from continuing to do it,” said Sandy Wiechman, Coordinator for Wood County Safe Communities. “This effort is intended to educate our community about the dangers of cell phone use and other distractions while driving. We hope that once people see the statistics and realize the danger involved, they will change their driving habits to help protect themselves, their families, and others on the road.”

In 2013, 3,154 people were killed in crashes involving a distracted driver and an estimated additional 424,000 were injured in motor vehicle crashes involving a distracted driver. That same year, eleven percent of fatal crashes were reported as distraction-affected crashes.

While anything that takes your eyes off the road, hands off the wheel, or mind off the task of driving is a hazard, there is heightened concern about the risks of texting while driving because it combines all three types of distraction – visual, manual, and cognitive. (added a comma here)

The national distracted driving effort mobilization to stop distracted driving focuses on ways to change the behavior of drivers through legislation, enforcement, public awareness, and education – the same activities that have curbed drunk driving and increased seat belt use.

“Every driver in Wood County has a role in this effort,” said Ms. Wiechman. “However, we especially want to reach out to parents with teen drivers because we know that statistically, the under-20 age group had the highest proportion of distracted drivers involved in fatal crashes.”

Wood County’s goal with this campaign is simple – save lives by getting drivers to remember that “One Text or Call Could Wreck It All.”

For More Information:
• Lt. Jerrod Savidge, 419-352-2481
• www.distraction.gov
• Safe Communities Coordinator, Sandy Wiechman
419-372-9353 or swiechm@bgsu.edu.