Southeastern Highways Targeted for Holidays mattmontgomery  at:  6/30/2004 9:20:00 AM    THIS IS A SUMMER H.E.A.T. ADVISORY SOUTHEASTERN HIGHWAYS TARGETED FOR JULY 4TH SUMMER H.E.A.T. ENFORCEMENT  National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Administrator Dr. Jeffrey Runge, announced today that NHTSA has adopted the 100 Days of Summer H.E.A.T. speed and aggressive driving campaign as a law enforcement model to focus on the reduction of needless deaths and injuries that occur each year in the Southeast. At a morning news conference here, highway safety and enforcement agency officials from every state in the region gathered at the Georgia Transportation Management Center for an unprecedented show of support for this Summer-long sustained enforcement initiative. “Every year, the July 4th holiday is one of the deadliest times for motorists to be on the roadways,” said Dr. Runge.  “NHTSA has joined forces with law enforcement agencies from eight Southeastern states in a unified commitment to crack-down on unsafe drivers who speed or drive impaired by alcohol or drugs.” NHTSA officials say the most recent regional data shows 164 traffic related deaths occurred across the Southeast during the July 4th holiday week.  Out of those fatalities, 64 people were killed in speed-related crashes and 88 others died in alcohol-related crashes. “And each year across the Southeast, during the summer months alone we lose more than twenty-five-hundred lives,” said NHTSA Southeast Region Administrator Tony Schiavone.  “About 32-percent of those victims are killed in speed-related traffic crashes.  Strict enforcement crackdowns like Summer H.E.A.T. are the proven effective way to keep this region’s roads safe.”   The Summer H.E.A.T. speed and aggressive driving campaign was mobilized in Georgia after statistics revealed a growing number of fatality crashes were speed-related and those deadly numbers were actually beginning to outpace alcohol-related crash deaths. “People are driving faster and faster on our southern highways and the peak speeds are building during these summer months,” said Director Robert Dallas of the Georgia Governor’s Office of Highway Safety.  “We want Summer HEAT to raise Georgia driver awareness.  We want motorists here to stay sober, stay safe and stay out of the holiday headlines and statistics,” said Dallas.         July 4th Holiday Fatality Predictions mattmontgomery  at:  6/30/2004 9:16:44 AM    THIS IS A SUMMER H.E.A.T. ADVISORY JULY 4 HOLIDAY FATALITY PREDICTIONS:  (ATLANTA) The Georgia State Patrol (GSP) and the Georgia Department of Motor Vehicle Safety (DMVS) have released their predictions for traffic crashes, injuries and fatalities for the July 4th Holiday weekend period.  Crash analysis experts at GSP and DMVS are predicting 2,044 traffic crashes, 665 injuries and 14 fatalities during this 54-hour holiday period. Last year, there were 2,453 crashes resulting in 711 injuries and 19 fatalities during a 78-hour July 4th Holiday period.  GSP Colonel Georgia Ellis said “The statistics bear out the reasons why State Troopers will be on full patrol during the holiday period.   Last year, eleven of the nineteen fatalities in Georgia involved impaired drivers and 15 of those killed were not wearing seatbelts or using other safety equipment.”  As a result, more than 500 other local law enforcement agencies around the state will be enforcing “Operation Zero Tolerance” during the July 4th Holiday period. The OZT statewide Impaired Driving Enforcement Campaign is coordinated each year by the Governor’s Office of Highway Safety.  “You Drink, You Drive, You Lose.”  GOHS Director Robert Dallas said motorists should be prepared to encounter random road checks and concentrated patrols all across Georgia.  “And as part of the “100 Days of Summer H.E.A.T.” enforcement campaign, officers will also be ticketing drivers who violate the posted speed limits or drive aggressively.”  Aggressive driving can include yelling and making obscene gestures, running red-lights, tailgating, weaving in-and-out of traffic, cutting-off other drivers or blocking them from changing lanes.  “This high visibility enforcement has proven effective for raising driver awareness and staying sober, staying alive and staying out of those holiday statistics,” said Director Dallas.  For law enforcement ride-alongs or more information about the July 4th Holiday fatality statistics, contact TFC Larry Schnall or Gordy Wright at the Georgia State Patrol Office of Public Information at 404-657-7597.         Safety News from the University of West Georgia mattmontgomery  at:  6/28/2004 4:30:18 PM   UWG News Item Contact: UWG Public Relations Office Phone (770) 836-6464, FAX (770) 836-6676 wgpr@westga.edu Safety Grant June 15, 2004 CARROLLTON, GA - Students at all educational levels in Carroll County are benefiting from safety programming at the State University of West Georgia thanks to a grant received from the Governor’s Office of Highway Safety. University Health Services at UWG received a $21,900 grant to provide programming on alcohol prevention, highway safety, and other safety issues. Activities have included the opportunity to experience an intoxication simulator that allows participants to see firsthand how alcohol impacts motor skills, perceptions, reflexes, etc. More than 5,000 university students have participated in classes and other activities provided by this grant and taught by trained university peer educators. According to Jill Hendricks, UWG Health Services patient advocate, speakers have included a prisoner from the Georgia Department of Corrections convicted of DUI who spoke to university as well as area public school students. The prisoner, who spoke wearing his prison uniform, handcuffs and leg shackles, shared a graphic story of going from being an ordinary guy having fun with friends to becoming a convicted felon who must live the rest of his lie knowing he killed two innocent people. University personnel have conducted seatbelt checks on campus and are available to conduct them at area high schools. Plans are underway to coordinate with local law enforcement agencies to participate in the Governor’s Office of highway safety’s “Click It or Ticket” campaign. Free literature and training materials have been distributed, and free promotional materials such as safety lights and whistle key chains have been given away. Local and campus law enforcement personnel have assisted in seatbelt checks on campus and at local high schools. Free literature and training materials have been distributed and free promotional materials such as safety lights and whistle key chains have been given away. An upcoming day camp sponsored in conjunction with UWG’s Department of Continuing Education brought safety training to the younger children of the area. “Safety on Our Streets,” offered June 7-11 for children ages 6-12, covered such topics as bike, skateboard, car, four-wheeler, and large animal safety. Hendricks noted that Carroll County currently ranks fourth in the state in the number of documented teen traffic fatalities. Only Gwinnett, Fulton and DeKalb Counties reported more such fatalities and 30 percent of UWG’s students are from that metro Atlanta area. “Approximately 21 percent of Carroll County drivers between the ages of 16 and 17 will be involved in an automobile accident and 36 percent of those will receive some type of injury,” she noted. “We hope this type of safety training will reduce those numbers.” Hendricks has applied for a renewal of the grant to continue the programming for college, high school, middle and elementary school children next year. For more information concerning the grant programming, contact her at 770-836-6452. FOR MORE INFORMATION REGARDING THE UNIVERSITY OF WEST GEORGIA, VISIT THEM ON THE WEB AT http://www.westga.edu/         Summer HEATS up in South Carolina mattmontgomery  at:  6/23/2004 10:18:01 AM   On June 17th, representatives from the Governor's Office of Highway Safety in Georgia attended the kickoff for "100 Days of Summer HEAT" in Spartanburg, South Carolina. The "100 Days of Summer HEAT" program is unique in that it is both a statewide and regional program. South Carolina will join its Southern state brothers in creating a region-wide network web of traffic enforcement. All summer long, aggressive drivers will be stopped at road checks or pulled over by concentrated patrols on the interstates, secondary corridors, and local highways. For the "100 Days of Summer Heat", police will actively search for speeders in passenger vehicles, eighteen wheelers and motorcycles. Max H. Young, director of the Office of Highway Safety with the South Carolina Department of Public Safety, shows the logo for the "100 Days of Summer Heat." Below is an article from the Spartanburg Herald-Journal detailing the South Carolina Press Conference.  GOHS Deputy Director Rob Mikell, Special Operations Director Ricky Rich, and Law Enforcement Coordinator Mark Hutchinson all attended to give a hand to South Carolina.  For more information on Georgia's "100 Days of Summer HEAT" program, go to http://www.gahighwaysafety.org/heatison.html _______________________________________________________  Law enforcement agencies planning crackdown on highway fatalities, DUIs By Shamona McClary | Staff Writer If you like to burn rubber, your tires won't be the only things feeling the heat this summer. On Thursday, Upstate law enforcement agencies teamed with the South Carolina Department of Public Safety, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, BMW Manufacturing Corp. and the states of Georgia, Alabama and North Carolina in an enforcement campaign, "100 Days of Summer HEAT." At a news conference at BMW, law enforcement representatives announced plans to reduce highway fatalities and injuries by cracking down on speeding, driving under the influence and other traffic violations. Summer is the deadliest time of year for automobile crashes, they said. Beginning Saturday and continuing through Labor Day, law enforcement agencies will heavily patrol I-85 for disobedient drivers in the four-state zone. For each summer month, saturation patrols will emphasize a primary violation. In June and August, the emphasis will be on speeding; in July, alcohol use; and on Labor Day weekend, driving under the influence. Max Young, director of the office of Highway Safety with the state Department of Public Safety, said he feels optimistic about the effects of the new enforcement program. He said drivers violating traffic laws would have a chance of getting caught multiple times if they travel through the four states. Bobby Hitt, manager of public affairs for BMW, stressed the corporation's concern for maintaining safety on the roads. "We work hard to build a car to protect the occupant," he said. Hitt said BMW and other safety coalitions have tried to alter the seatbelt law in South Carolina to join surrounding states in making it a primary violation. At present, officers cannot stop a driver because the driver is not wearing a seatbelt or properly restraining a passenger. Tickets may only be issued if the driver is stopped for another infraction. The state Legislature adjourned earlier this month without passing a primary enforcement law because of a filibuster in the Senate. Greenville County Sheriff Steve Loftis stressed the local commitment to reducing traffic deaths. He said Greenville County already has recorded 10 more fatalities than it had at this time last year. Over Memorial Day weekend, Loftis said his deputies arrested 28 people for DUI, and more than 1,400 people were issued citations. Only one fatality occurred in the county. In addition to the human loss, Erick Moran, regional program manager for the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, said speeding is costly for the economy. Speed-related crashes cost the nation about $40 billion each year, he said. Shamona McClary can be reached at 562-7262 or shamona.mcclary@shj.com.             GOHS Awards Traffic Enforcement Networks mattmontgomery  at:  6/11/2004 10:40:22 AM   Data reporting is not a glamourous duty, but for research and planning, it is the lifeblood of any organization.  As such, the Governor's Office of Highway Safety has instituted a monthly award for the Traffic Enforcement Network that has the highest percentage rate across the state.  Winning TEN's receive a BAT (Blood Alcohol Testing) Trailer to be used around the region.  Take a look at the newest winner for June and pictures and commentary from May's winner. http://www.gahighwaysafety.org/awardwinning.html      First Page   Prev. Page   Next Page   Last Page

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