Starke County Prosecutor Advises Residents to Make Good Decisions this Holiday Weekend

Posted onAugust 30, 2019
AuthorJacque Ryan, WKVI

According to statistics from the Indiana Criminal Justice Institute, 83 Hoosiers were killed in drunk driving collisions during 2018. Nationwide, a life is lost due to a drunk driving accident every 48 minutes.

Holiday weekends, like Labor Day weekend, see a spike in the number of people getting behind the wheel after drinking.

Starke County Prosecutor Leslie Baker is advising residents of Starke County to be mindful this Labor Day weekend and to avoid drinking and driving.

According to the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration, in 2017, 256 drivers died over Labor Day weekend and 37 percent of them were drunk at the time of the crash. Studies show these fatalities are much more likely to occur at night and involve people between the ages of 21 and 34.

The choice is clear, if you have an alcoholic drink or use drugs that may impair you, even prescription medication, you should not drive.

There are plenty of steps Hoosiers can take to make sure they have a safe weekend:

1. Make sure you have a safe, sober ride home before drinking alcohol
2. Don’t let someone who has been drinking get behind the wheel
3. If you’re hosting a party, make sure everyone has a sober way to get home
4. Wear your seat belt, it’s the best defense if you’re involved in a collision with a drunk driver
5. If you see a drunk driver, call law enforcement

Saturday will mark the end of National ‘Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over’ week when law enforcement agencies make a concerted effort to initiate more OWI checkpoints and patrols in order to keep Indiana roads safe and to raise awareness about the dangers of impaired driving.

This emphasis on making smart choices and to avoid driving while intoxicated should continue for Hoosiers into the holiday weekend and beyond.

Remember that even one drink is enough to impair your decision making. The information provided above came from an official press release issued by the Starke County Prosecutor’s Office

Local Police to Take Part in Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over Campaign

Posted on August 4, 2018
Author Michael Gallenberger, WKVI

Local law enforcement will be stepping up patrols between now and Labor Day. It’s part of the annual nationwide Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over campaign.

The Culver and LaPorte police departments will be among roughly 230 in the state conducting overtime patrols, with funding from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration distributed by the Indiana Criminal Justice Institute. During the enforcement effort, drivers can expect to see more sobriety checkpoints, roving patrols, and saturation patrols, according to a press release.

In Indiana, police officers also have some new tools to help them fight impaired driving. More than 2,600 portable breath tests were distributed to 150 law enforcement agencies. While there’s no quick way to test for many other types of drugs, officers trained to recognized drug-impaired driving were given Android tablets to help with the documentation process.

Police urge Hoosiers to avoid drunk driving by designating a sober driver, celebrating at home or someplace you can stay, or taking the keys from friends or family members who are about to drive while impaired. Police say that if you come across an impaired driver, turn off the road and call 911.

This year’s Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over campaign gets underway in mid-August.

Click it or Ticket Campaigns in Full Swing

Posted on May 25, 2018
Author Anita Goodan, WKVI

Local police agencies around the state are participating in the Click it or Ticket campaign designed to increase enforcement of seat-belt laws. Officers will be watching for unrestrained adults and children in cars and trucks both day and night.

Last year, more than 240 law enforcement agencies performed 8,728 hours of traffic patrols and issued more than 30,000 citations or warnings. Seat belt and child restraint citations totaled around 13,700.

In a study conducted by the Purdue University Center for Road Safety, seat belt usage between the years 2000 and 2017 increased from 62 to 93 percent.

Overtime police patrols are paid with National Highway Traffic Safety Administration funds administered by the Indiana Criminal Justice Institute.

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Provides Winter Tips for Motorists

Posted on December 6, 2017
Author Jacque Ryan, WKVI

As winter weather approaches driving conditions will become more hazardous with an increase of snow and ice on the roadways during the coming months. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has a few tips to keep in mind, to ensure all motorists have a safe holiday travel season.

Be sure to check that your vehicle’s battery, windshield wipers, tires and heating system are all in proper working order before severe winter weather hits. NHTSA also advises drivers to clean snow, ice or dirt from all windows, sensors, headlights and taillights before taking off in a vehicle.

Keep your vehicle stocked with necessary safety supplies in case of an emergency. These supplies should include blankets, a snow shovel and ice scraper as well as some abrasive material such as sand or kitty litter in case your vehicle gets stuck. Also carry jumper cables, flashlights and warning devices such as flares or emergency markers.

For more winter driving tips from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration click here.

INDOT/NHTSA: Changing Your Clocks Means Changing Your Driving Habits

POSTED BY REGION NEWS TEAM ON NOVEMBER 2, 2016 | 6:25 PM IN LOCAL NEWS, REGION NEWS

The first weekend in November is almost here and that means spending the weekend raking leaves and this Sunday, setting our clocks back one-hour as Daylight Saving Time ends.

INDOT and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reminds Hoosiers that sun glare and darkness will now occur during different parts of your familiar driving or walking routine, so drivers and pedestrians should exercise greater caution.  Pedestrians are also being urged to make yourself more visible and to give traffic an extra look before crossing the street.

INDOT and NHTSA offer these tips and urge you to give them a look and share them with your loved ones:

Motorists

• Slow down. During the evening hours, you need more time to see a pedestrian in your path.
• Don’t drive distracted or impaired. Any behavior that slows your reaction time, increases the risk of a crash.
• Keep in mind that pedestrians who are wearing headphones, hats or earmuffs may not hear your vehicle as it approaches.
• Keep your windshield, windows, and mirrors clean.
• Make sure your defrosters and windshield wipers are working properly and that washer fluid is replaced as needed.

Pedestrians

• Carry a flashlight or attach reflective materials - such as fluorescent tape - to clothing, backpacks, purses, and briefcases. These materials reflect light from headlights back to drivers, making it easier to see you.
• Don’t depend on the traffic signal to protect you. Motorists may be distracted, especially when adjusting to the nighttime travel environment.
• Avoid jaywalking and crossing between parked vehicles. Crosswalks offer a safer alternative.
• Walk on sidewalks whenever possible. If you must walk on the street, face traffic.
• When crossing the street, look left-right-left for cars from the curb.
• Do not cross the street if a car is coming, and always use a crosswalk if available.
• Watch out for cars at every driveway and intersection.
• Stay completely focused on the road and avoid distractions like smartphones and tablets when walking.

Summer Safety – Temperatures Inside Cars Can Easily Exceed 100 Degrees

Published: July 7, 2015

By: Jacque Ryan, WKVI

During the coming months, summer temperatures are expected to soar. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration likes to annually remind care-givers of small children to never leave a child unattended in a vehicle. They report that on a 60 degree day temperatures inside a locked car can get well above 100 degrees very quickly. On hotter days that get up into the 80s and 90s outside, temperatures in a car can be a dangerous 130 to 160 degrees within minutes. These conditions are obviously incredibly dangerous to young children who can potentially die when their bodies temperatures exceed 107 degrees. Heatstroke does not always lead to death but can also cause various other health problems such as permanent brain damage, deafness and the loss of sight.

Heatstroke injuries and fatalities are 100 percent preventable. The most important bit of advice is to never leave a child in a car without supervision. Even if you have your air cranked up and/or windows rolled down and “you’ll only be gone a second” it is not worth the risk, bring your child with you or leave them at home with another parent or sitter where they will be safer.

If you’re dropping your child off at daycare prior to work and may find yourself in a hurry, leave yourself a reminder such as a stuffed animal in your passenger seat or your purse or briefcase in the back seat to ensure your child gets where they need to be.

Not all vehicle-related heatstroke accidents happen from forgetful parents, sometimes curious kids will find their way into dangerous situations all on their own. Before locking your car, check all the seats and your trunk for stow-aways. Once you’re sure the car is clear, secure all locks and your store your keys in a safe place out-of-reach. Teach your children that the vehicle is not a play area.

The NHTSA launched the “Look Before You Lock” educational campaign three years ago to provide simple tips that can not only save lives but help families prevent unnecessary heartache. Share these tips with friends and family members and remember that if you see an unattended child in a locked car, you have every right to contact authorities for that child’s safety. Do not hesitate to call 911, you could potentially save a life.