Bridging Gaps, Saving Lives
Ohio’s New Traffic Safety Program for Non-English Speakers
The Ohio Department of Public Safety has recently launched an innovative traffic safety education program aimed at non-English speakers in Ohio. This new initiative is designed to bridge language barriers and provide crucial traffic safety information to a broader audience. By reaching out to non-English speaking communities, the program seeks to enhance road safety for all Ohioans, including those working in diverse industries across the state.
Program Highlights
- Multilingual resources: The program offers free educational materials and resources. The materials include information on the requirements for obtaining an Ohio driver license, understanding traffic signs, signals and safety laws, and more. Materials are provided in English, and designed to be taught with a translator, or translated into various languages, ensuring that all employees, regardless of their primary language, have access to vital traffic safety information.
- Customized workshops: Tailored workshops can be arranged for employers, providing in-depth training on traffic safety best practices and how to effectively communicate these to their workforce. To arrange a workshop, contact [email protected].
- Accessible information: With user-friendly content available online and in print, employees can easily access essential safety guidelines.
Benefits for Employers
Ohio employers stand to gain significantly from this program. By participating, businesses can:
- Enhance workplace safety: Ensuring all employees are well-informed about traffic safety can lead to a safer, more productive work environment.
- Reduce crash rates: Educated employees are less likely to be involved in traffic incidents, potentially reducing the number of work-related injuries and associated costs.
- Foster inclusivity: Providing resources in multiple languages demonstrates a commitment to inclusivity and support for all employees.
Key Messaging for Employers
Employers should communicate the following to their employees:
- Your safety is our priority; we encourage you to take advantage of the new traffic safety education resources available.
- By following the traffic safety guidelines provided, you contribute to a safer work environment for everyone.
- Remember, road safety isn’t just about avoiding crashes — it’s about ensuring you and your colleagues return home safely every day.
Did You Know?
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, workplace road crashes cost employers an estimated $72.2 billion in 2019 in medical care, legal expenses, property damage and lost productivity. Implementing comprehensive traffic safety programs can help reduce these costs significantly. For more information on the new traffic safety education program and how to schedule a workshop, visit the Ohio Traffic Safety Office’s website. This new initiative underscores the importance of inclusive, accessible education in promoting traffic safety and protecting the wellbeing of all employees.
Stay Safe This Labor Day
As the Labor Day holiday weekend approaches, Our Driving Concern is teaming with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to amplify its impaired driving campaign. We invite Ohio employers to participate in this effort to raise awareness of impairment safety risks and help keep your employees and their family members safe.
Traditionally, Labor Day weekend is a time for backyard barbecues, football tailgate parties and end-of-summer festivals.
- The message to spread: Have fun, be safe
- The focus: Safety for all road users, including bicyclists and pedestrians
- Here’s why: Crashes cost money, and impaired-driving crashes tend to spike on long holiday weekends; employers absorb the brunt of crash costs, whether they occur on or off the job, covering everything from liability exposure to payouts for medical expenses and property damage
According to the Ohio State Highway Patrol, 16 people were killed in impaired-driving crashes during the 2023 Labor Day weekend. Alcohol is not the only contributing factor in impaired-driving crashes. Drugs, even many legal drugs like over-the-counter medications, can produce the same types of impairment:
- Reduced ability to concentrate and think clearly
- Decreased coordination and loss of sensory perception
- Slowed reaction times
Research from the National Library of Medicine has shown drivers who are mentally or physically fatigued are more likely to take risks, and drivers who are over-stressed can make poor decisions.
How can you work to create positive change? Use free resources from NHTSA to launch a safety awareness campaign on your social media accounts, or get fact sheets to build your own workplace safety talks:
Tap into our free resources, including:
- Driver safety games: Impairment Jeopardy
- Driver behavior series videos: Impairment Safety
- Multi-substance use training for employees (free): Learn about risks associated with multi-substance use and how to look up the effects of combining drugs in this 12-minute course.
Let’s work together to plan for safety during the long Labor Day weekend.