National Bike Month Kickoff mattmontgomery  at:  5/5/2008   Atlanta Bicycle Campaign Launches "I'm on that Bike" to Kick-Off National Bike Month For the second year in a row, the Atlanta Bicycle Campaign kicked off National Bike Month on May 5th with distinguished speakers at a one-time event. Speakers from the Governor's Office of Highway Safety, the Mayor's Office, Atlanta Bicycle Campaign, and the local community highlighted the importance of "Sharing the Road" to the future of a cleaner and greener Atlanta. Unveiled at this event was the Atlanta Bicycle Campaign's "I'm on that Bike" program, which promotes safe road travel for all users and will stimulate connection between car drivers and cyclists. "It becomes easy," said Atlanta Bicycle Campaign's Rebecca Serna, "to forget that cyclists are also mothers, teachers, office workers, or students." The ads will focus on driver caution around cyclists. Among the speakers were Bob Dallas, director of the Governor's Office on Highway Safety; Jared Mckinley, outreach coordinator for Rep. John Lewis; Rebecca Serna, executive director of Atlanta Bicycle Campaign; and local cyclist Kate Morales whose harrowing experience will underline the need to share the road. Each May, National Bike Month focuses attention on this clean, green alternative transit and is highlighted by Bike to Work Week from May 12 to 16 and the National Bike to Work Day on Friday, May 16. In concert with these special events is the ongoing, national Share the Road initiative that advocates awareness of traffic laws, cyclists as lawful road users, and the need for motorized vehicles to do as the slogan suggests. Full information about "I'm on that Bike" ads and the Share the Road initiative and materials can be found at atlantabike.org or by calling (404) 881-1112. Atlanta's largest member-based bicycle advocacy organization, Atlanta Bicycle Campaign advocates better conditions for biking, provides Confident City Cycling classes that teach people to ride safely, offers programs to break down the barriers to cycling, educates drivers and cyclists on how to share the road, and strives to make Atlanta a bike-friendly, greener community. Visit www.atlantabike.org for more information. TO VIEW OTHER GOHS NEWS ITEMS, CLICK HERE TO GO TO THE GOHS HOME PAGE, CLICK HERE         Tattnall County High School Alcohol Prom Night mattmontgomery  at:  4/30/2008   TATTNALL COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL ALCOHOL FREE PROM NIGHT IN THE NEWS The POAG (Peace Officers Association of Georgia) has awarded Tattnall County High School a $2500 grant (sponsored by Canoochee Electric Membership Cooperation) to be used to promote and sponsor an alcohol-free prom night. Media coverage of the award presentation will be on Channel 11 WTOC in Savannah between 5:00 and 5:30 p.m. today (April 30, 2008). To view the presentation online, go to http://www.wtoctv.com/ after its initial airing on tonight's news. TO VIEW OTHER GOHS NEWS ITEMS, CLICK HERE TO GO TO THE GOHS HOME PAGE, CLICK HERE         SADD Planner and Program Honored in Law Enforcement Awards mattmontgomery  at:  4/25/2008   GOHS Planner Honored by Gravedigger Ministries  The Gravedigger television ministries hosted “An Evening with Law Enforcement on Thursday, April 17, 2008 and one of GOHS' planners, Barbara Jones, was honored for her work with Georgia high schools via the SADD program in general and specifically work with Prom Safety including Pebblebrook High School in Cobb County. For more than 20 years, SADD has been committed to empowering young people to lead education and prevention initiatives within their schools and communities. Founded as Students Against Driving Drunk in 1981 in Wayland, Massachusetts, SADD has grown to become the nation’s dominant peer-to-peer youth prevention organization with thousands of chapters in high schools. In 1997, in response to request from SADD students themselves, SADD expanded its mission and name, and now sponsors chapters called Students Against Destructive Decisions. SADD continues to endorse a firm “no use” message related to use of alcohol and other drugs. With its expanded focus, SADD now highlights prevention of all destructive behaviors and attitudes that are harmful to young people, including underage drinking, substance abuse impaired driving, violence and suicide. SADD’s unique approach involves young people delivering education and prevention messages to their peers through school-and community-wide activities and campaigns responsive to the needs of their particular locations. Projects may include peer-led classes and theme-focused forums, teen workshops, conferences and rallies, prevention education and leadership training, and awareness-raising activities and legislative work. Independent studies have shown that students in schools with an established SADD chapter are more and informed about the risks of underage drinking, other drug use and impaired driving. Students in schools with a SADD chapter are also more likely to hold attitudes reflecting positive reasons not to use alcohol. The Gravedigger ministry, founded in 1990, has been on Atlanta’s Channel 57 for nearly ten years and across the nation on DBSSky Angel Satellite for eight years. The Gravedigger Ministry was founded on the remarkable life story of Joe Oreskovich. As a child he suffered tremendous abuse and pain. Overcoming the challenges, Joe became a professional in the insurance industry until drugs and alcohol consumed him. He lost his family, career and all worldly possessions ultimately finding himself living in a cardboard box on the streets of south Atlanta. On the brink of suicide, Joe was led to Jesus Christ by a firefighter. After serving time in the county jail, Joe worked part-time jobs as he pursued his vision—to build a memorial park for public safety personnel. That park was eventually built in College Park and became a reality in the 1990s. In 1998, Joe launched his ministry into broadcast media, starting with a humble program on Christian television beginning with Channel 57 in Norcross. The Gravedigger Show became an instant hit with audiences as Joe effectively and sincerely addressed topic after topic that affect our community and often addressing some aspect of public safety. The ministry established a suicide hotline that, over the years, led to a reported 600-plus people turning from suicide. Congratulations again to Barbara Jones for her dedication and hard work to helping Georgia youth on and off the roadways. For more information on SADD in Georgia, visit http://www.gahighwaysafety.org/saddga.html. TO VIEW OTHER GOHS NEWS ITEMS, CLICK HERE TO GO TO THE GOHS HOME PAGE, CLICK HERE         2008 Lifesavers Conference Photos and Commentary mattmontgomery  at:  4/18/2008   PHOTOS FROM THE 2008 LIFESAVERS CONFERENCE IN PORTLAND, OREGON..... Lifesavers is the premier national highway safety meeting in the United States dedicated to reducing the tragic toll of deaths and injuries on our nation's roadways. Starting in the early 1980s, the Lifesavers conference attendance has grown steadily, drawing over 2,400 participants in 2007. Each year, the Lifesavers Conference has become even more relevant and timely, providing a forum that delivers common-sense solutions to today's critical highway safety problems. The conference addresses a wide range of safety topics, from child passenger safety and occupant protection to roadway and vehicle safety and technology. It offers the latest information on advances in highway safety, highlights successful programs and draws attention to emerging safety issues. Lifesavers has no single sponsor and relies on the involvement of diverse private and public groups who share the common goal of improving highway safety. Held this year on April 12th through the 15th in Portland, Oregon, the Lifesavers Conference provided a showcase for Georgia highway safety techniques. Among the speakers from GOHS were: Jim Shuler on Public Information Office Techniques Tim Roberts on Law Enforcement Incentives Fred Huff on Motorcycle Awareness Programs GOHS would like to thank NHTSA and the Lifesaver Conference staff for bringing together an all-star collection of highway safety professionals from around the country. The information shared will be incorporated in future programs for the betterment of all Georgians and all road users across the country. TO VIEW OTHER GOHS NEWS ITEMS, CLICK HERE TO GO TO THE GOHS HOME PAGE, CLICK HERE         Thomas J. Barrett, Deputy Secretary of the USDOT Visits GOHS mattmontgomery  at:  4/8/2008   A Visit from US DOT Deputy Secretary Barrett On April 8th, the Governor's Office of Highway Safety in Georgia (GOHS) was honored to host Vice Admiral Thomas J. Barrett, Deputy Secretary of the United States Department of Transportation. Admiral Barrett was in Atlanta for a series of regional meetings and wanted to hear more about Georgia's rural road initiatives as well as other important highway safety matters. Attending with Admiral Barrett were Terry Schiavone and Belinda Jackson from NHTSA and Rodney Berry from FHWA. GOHS is working in coordination with the Georgia Department of Human Resources to fund the Rural Roads Program. The Rural Roads Initiative is a project that works to prevent injuries by improving safety on rural and non-interstate roads in northeast and southeast Georgia. The program addresses facets of risk arising from: road factors like lack of signs, striping, and lack of shoulders; behavioral factors such as lack of occupant protection device usage, speeding and DUI; as well as program factors such as lack of funds or program planning data. The project works in collaboration with the Northeast Georgia Pioneer Regional Support Agency, the University of Georgia's Traffic Safety Research and Evaluation Group and other public health and public safety partners and stakeholders. The grant from the Governor's Office of Highway Safety will be used to properly identify traffic safety problems and supply accurate data and materials for program planning and implementation. GOHS would like to thank Admiral Barrett for taking the time to learn more about Georgia safety programs as he helps to tackle problems nationwide. TO VIEW OTHER GOHS NEWS ITEMS, CLICK HERE  TO GO TO THE GOHS HOME PAGE, CLICK HERE    First Page   Prev. Page   Next Page   Last Page

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