Smarter, Simpler, Safer
We’re excited to share big news with safety leaders and employers across Ohio: The Our Driving Concern team has refreshed its library of online traffic safety and workplace training courses. Thanks to support from Honda, we’ve upgraded our digital learning platform to make implementation easier than ever. These enhancements are designed with employers in mind. Supervisors and managers can now assign courses to employees, track completions and access improved reporting tools. The platform’s new functionality and accessibility features support group delivery and make it simple to integrate safety trainings into your workplace routine. Our expanded offerings include updated and refreshed Driver Behavior Micro E-Learning courses. These courses are mobile-friendly, run less than 10 minutes and cover six key risk areas:
- Aggressive driving
- Distracted driving
- Drowsy driving
- Impaired driving
- Journey management
- Passenger restraint (seat belt safety)
When participants complete any of these micro-learnings and pass a quiz, they earn a certificate of completion. Best of all, your workers can check off these tasks anytime, anywhere. In addition to the micro-learning series, we offer targeted online trainings to address specific safety concerns. These courses take between 15 and 30 minutes to complete:
- Young Drivers in the Workplace: This new course highlights the unique risks young drivers face on and off the job and provides practical strategies to help them stay safe behind the wheel. Employers will gain tools to support young workers, strengthen fleet safety operations and reduce crash-related claims.
- Journey Management Planning: Learn how to build a plan that prioritizes safety and efficiency, with real-world scenarios that highlight best practices.
- Multi-Substance Use: Understand the risks of combining substances and how they affect workplace performance and driving safety.
- Pedestrian Safety: Take a fun, interactive quiz to test your knowledge and learn how to protect vulnerable road users.
These updates – more engaging, data-driven content and easier course delivery – reflect our ongoing commitment to helping employers promote safe driving behaviors, prevent crashes and build safer workplaces. Ready to get started? Visit our website to explore the new training options and bring safety to the forefront of your organization.
Ring in the Season
Lights are twinkling and the holidays are almost here! Your calendar is packed and the roads are growing increasingly more crowded. Between shopping trips, family visits and festive parties, it’s easy to forget that one bad decision – like driving impaired – can turn celebration into heartbreak. Let’s make safety a pivotal part of the season.
Joyful Holidays, Responsible Choices
Impaired driving crashes are 100% preventable, yet they cause devastating physical, emotional and financial consequences. The Ohio Department of Transportation, Ohio Traffic Safety Office and Ohio State Highway Patrol remind us through their Home Safe for the Holidays messaging blitz that the safest gift you can give is a safe ride home. Buckling up, putting the phone down, slowing down and driving sober are simple ways to ensure your family makes it home safely this holiday season.
Watch this 30-second video during a team meeting or embed it on your intranet to reinforce safe driving habits:
Sobering Statistics
Through November of this year, the Ohio Traffic Safety Office tracked more than 7,500 alcohol-related crashes on its statistics dashboard:
- More than 2,000 people suffered minor or serious injuries in those crashes
- More than 200 people were killed
Across the U.S., the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports:
- 1,038 lives were lost in alcohol-impaired crashes in December 2023
- Nighttime is especially dangerous; in December 2023, 47% of drivers in fatal crashes between midnight and 3 a.m. were drunk
- Young adults 21-34 accounted for 27% of impaired drivers in fatal crashes
Busy roads, packed parking lots and festive gatherings create the perfect storm for distraction and impairment. Add stress, fatigue and winter weather, and risks multiply.
Safety Tips
Help employees and their families stay safe this season:
- Plan ahead: Designate a sober driver or use a rideshare service
- Stay focused: Silence your phone and set your GPS before driving; take the NSC Just Drive Pledge
- Check conditions: Know the weather and store hours before leaving; learn about road conditions from OHGO | Hello Smart Traveler.
- Slow down: Wet or icy roads demand extra space and caution
- Rest up: Fatigue can be as dangerous as impairment
- Buckle Up: Get free resources and tips to promote seat belt safety in our Safe Driving Toolkit
Stress Counts
Stress can mimic impairment by affecting memory, decision-making and reaction time. Encourage mental wellness and safe habits with free resources from the National Safety Council and Our Driving Concern:
- Learn about the many causes of impairment
- Leverage the data behind impairment to help your employees
- Sign up for our free Workplace Impairment Training; online or in-person options help leaders recognize and respond to all types of impairment
Download and display this free safety poster: 12 Days of Safety | Happy Holidays.
Your Call-to-Action
Start the conversation today. Share these tips in your company newsletter, post them on your intranet and remind employees that safety is everyone’s responsibility. Together, we can make sure every holiday story ends with joy – not tragedy.
Earn Recognition
Are you leading the charge for safer roads? The Ohio Employer Traffic Safety Awards, presented by the National Safety Council, celebrate organizations that champion safe driving behaviors and reduce crashes, injuries and fatalities. When employers take the wheel on traffic safety, they save lives, cut costs and set the standard for others to follow.
Who Can Apply?
Awards are open to employers of all sizes — municipal, corporate, private or nonprofit — with categories like Distinguished Excellence, Innovative Practices and Workforce Engagement. Past winners have raised the bar with programs that inspire others to strengthen their own safety efforts.
Don’t Miss Out!
Submit your application or nominate an employer by Jan. 9 for this prestigious recognition. Show your commitment to safety and join the movement to make Ohio roads safer for everyone.
Cheers to Safety!
The holidays are a time for joy, connection and celebration, and safety should always be part of the plan. National Safety Council Senior Program Manager DeAnn Crane reminds us: “If drinking alcohol is part of your plan when you go out, then arranging for a safe ride home needs to be part of the plan, too.”
- Imbed this 60-second video reminder from DeAnn on your intranet: Wrap Up the Holidays with Safety – Drive Sober, Arrive Safely
Choosing a designated driver before the evening begins is the best way to avoid crashes, prevent injuries and save lives. No designated driver? Rideshare services, taxis and public transportation are always smart alternatives. Holiday cheer doesn’t require alcohol. Mocktails are a festive, fun option and can help keep everyone safe. Download and share these recipes:
- Non-Alcoholic Christmas Mimosa
- Non-Alcoholic Christmas Punch
- Non-Alcoholic Pomegranate Spritzer
- Non-Alcoholic Sangria
- Non-Alcoholic White Christmas Margarita
Explore more spikeless punch and mocktail recipes for creative, alcohol-free drink recipes your guests will love. The best celebrations end with everyone making it home safely.