The Ohio State Highway Patrol’s Partners for Safety initiative began three years ago as a way to apply community policing principles to the rural areas of Ohio. The concept, which has received national and international acclaim, successfully blends statewide corporate partnerships with innovative initiatives at the local level. Partners for Safety involves a commitment of operational, public relations, and public education activities involving the Patrol and community residents.
A lasting goal of the Partners for Safety effort is to promote a safer highway environment, reduce traffic crashes, achieve voluntary compliance of motor vehicle traffic laws, and positively impact highway crime at the local level.
A key to the success of Partners for Safety involves developing partnerships at the local level with businesses, community groups, health and safety organizations, law enforcement agencies, and schools. These partnerships help in the development of state and local programs to increase the overall safety on Ohio roadways.
The partnerships highlighted in this article between the Patrol and local community organizations demonstrate the successes that can occur when diverse groups come together to work toward the common goal of making Ohio roadways safe.
Troopers from the Batavia post worked in conjunction with Clermont County high school students to come up with a unique traffic safety message and sign to display at their school during prom and homecoming seasons. Students were encouraged to develop the message, which troopers believed would give students ownership of the effort, and make for a more meaningful campaign. Next, the school art department did design work that included both the school and Division logos along with, "Partners for Safety," and the 3’ x 5’ signs were laminated to make them weather proof. The participating schools will keep the signs so they may be displayed whenever appropriate.
Additionally, the Batavia post produced and distributed posters to encourage the use of safety belts. Clermont County historically has a higher than average rate of drivers killed not wearing safety belts. The posters display the Division logo, and statistical information, which is not specific to an individual year, so that the poster can be used for several years without fear of it becoming outdated. Based on the design of the poster, it is also available for use in other Ohio counties as applicable.
The Patrol’s Ironton post works closely with the Tri-State Law Enforcement Council. Troopers benefit from membership in this organization because it is an excellent tool for sharing information between agencies, as well as affording agencies the opportunity to focus on safety issues as a team. In 1999, professionally produced radio public service announcements, along with billboard advertising, was completed with a focus on safety. Based on the success of those efforts, the Ironton post along with the Tri-State Law Enforcement Council conducted a similar campaign again last year, and plans to do more billboards in 2001.
The Granville post coordinated a Partners for Safety venture that focused on child safety seat installations and use. As part of the initiative, the post supported radio advertising for a joint PFS project on a child seat giveaway with Wal-Mart, State Farm Insurance, Licking Memorial Hospital, and Licking County Children’s Services. Each participating agency contributed funding used for child seat purchases, with the exception of Licking County Children’s Services who provided a list of potential seat recipients.
Also, once per month, nine months out of the year, Granville troopers conduct child safety seat checks in conjunction with State Farm. These checks will start again in April as part of the partnership with State Farm the Patrol initiated statewide two years ago.
Over the past couple years, the Patrol’s Eaton post has been very active in community Partners for Safety endeavors. Most of the projects are held outside, and consequently employees, volunteers, and the public have in the past been exposed to weather extremities. On several occasions the post rented a tent to accommodate the public during Partners for Safety events. The post recently acquired a tent, which can safely serve the public during future Partners for Safety functions, including the Dayton Air and Trade Show.
As part of a combined effort with Wooster Motor Ways and Liberty Insurance, the Wooster post became involved in a successful billboard project. As part of the effort, Wooster Motor Ways agreed to finance the billboard rental and the Patrol handled billboard design and production efforts. The billboard, which appeared in seven locations last summer, focused on the safety partnership between the organizations. It served a dual purpose by encouraging increased motorist participation in safety efforts by utilizing the 1-877-7-PATROL help phone number to receive highway help, report aggressive drivers, and advise troopers of disabled vehicles..
These partnerships are at the heart of the Partners for Safety effort. Patrol personnel, who live and work in the local communities in which many of these efforts occur, aid in the development of programs designed to increase the safety on Ohio roadways.
In upcoming months, look for more partnerships between the Highway Patrol and local businesses that are making safety a priority.
Organizations interested in more information, or in becoming a Partner for Safety, can contact their local Patrol post at 1-877-7-PATROL, or the Division’s Public Affairs Unit at (614) 752-2792.
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