West Virginia Highway Safety Office
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2 Hale Street - Suite 100
Charleston, WV 25301
 

I N D E X

The West Virginia Governor’s Highway Safety Program (GHSP) is supported by a combination of federal and state funds dedicated to improvement safety on the State’s roadways. The GHSP staff is responsible for the identification and prioritization of highway safety problems within the state. After the problems are prioritized, the GHSP staff publishes an annual Performance based Highway Safety to assist in the distribution of available funds. After individual projects are funded, the GHSP staff is responsible monitoring to insure compliance with the requirements contained in each project’s grant.

Additionally, the GHSP is responsible for developing statewide initiatives, directing legislative and public information on highway safety topics of interest.

Federal NHTSA Section 402 funds are use to support GHSP staff salaries, benefits, travel, and other operational expenditures associated with the coordination of a comprehensive highway safety program.
 

Problem Statement

The general population remains uniformed to the extent of the seriousness of the traffic safety problem and is unaware that their involvement can make an immediate impact on the reduction of motor vehicle related injuries, and deaths.
 

Activities

     West Virginia utilizes a statewide coordinator to conduct Child Passenger Safety programming statewide, including the proper use and installation of child safety seats, conducting and assisting with child safety seat clinics, development and maintenance of child safety seat loaner programs, and public information and education for all children up to eighteen years of age.

Although child passenger deaths continue to be below the national average, the GHSP will continue to be an advocate to keep young children properly restrained in appropriate child safety seats, booster seats, and older children properly secured in seat belts. Habits both good and bad, are formed at an early age, and children whom become accustomed to riding restrained in a motor vehicle are more likely to continue the habit of wearing a seat belt into their teen and adult years.

Studies have shown that child safety seat use nationwide drops after the age of three. At this age, children are not large enough to fit lap and shoulder belts properly. Children who have outgrown child safety seats should be properly restrained in a booster seat until age 9. However, observations at child safety seat checks reveal that very few children are secured in booster seats. Education on the proper use and importance of child safety seats and booster seats must continued.

In addition, strong enforcement of adult seat belt laws saves not only adults, but children as well. The American Academy of Pediatrics found that a restrained driver was three times more likely to restrain a child. NHTSA observational research shows that when a driver buckles up, children are buckled up 87% of the time. However, when a driver is unbuckled, children are restrained only 24%.
 

Problem Statement

In 2002, 10,285 passengers age 14 or younger were involved in Crashes. This represents 26.34% of all passengers involved in crashes. Additionally, one-third (33.74%) of all passengers involved in crashes were below the age of 17.
 

Activities

    West Virginia utilizes the Governor’s Highway Safety Programs Law Enforcement Liaison office to coordinate Impaired Driving activities on a state level. The eight Regional Traffic Safety Programs assist in this effort and fund local agencies participation

In the winter of 2003 in a series of meetings, the West Virginia DUI Task Force was formed and includes representatives of the following: Governor’s Highway Safety Program, Division of Motor Vehicles, West Virginia State Police, West Virginia Prosecutor’s Institute, Commission on Drunk Driving Prevention, GHSP Paw Enforcement Liaison Office, and the Department of Highways. From these meetings the 2004-2005 Sustained DUI Enforcement Plan was drafted. This plan will be funded through Section 410 (Federal) funds and Commission on Drunk Driving Prevention funds (State). The plan involves all fifty-five counties and will involve any law enforcement agency that wishes to participate.
 

Problem Statement

In 2002 West Virginia had the ninth highest alcohol fatality rate in the United States at 0.93 with 174 alcohol related fatalities. West Virginia then entered into an agreement with NHTSA to become one of thirteen Strategic Evaluation States. In 2003 the alcohol fatality rate was lowered to 0.77 and 148 alcohol related fatalities. While we were successful in lowering the rate, we still have 37.5% of all fatalities alcohol related. The nine (9) year average is 40.27%.
 

HIGH VISIBILITY ENFORCEMENT ACTIVITIES
 

Ø       Saturation Patrols – Officers will patrol areas identified as high DUI area in-groups of at least three patrols.  Officers will stage in the enforcement area to alert motorist to the high visibility saturated patrol.
Ø       Sobriety Checkpoints – Officers will conduct checkpoints according to local department regulations requiring a large number of officers.
Ø       Low Manpower Sobriety Checkpoints – Officers will conduct checkpoints according to local department regulations requiring six or fewer officers.
Ø       Underage Alcohol Sales Stings – Officers will work with ABCC investigators or within department regulations in an effort to monitor the sale of alcohol to underage purchasers and make arrests of violations.
Ø       Participate in the National Mobilizations
Ø       Conduct enforcement activities during peak alcohol related crash times (holidays, special events)
 

PUBLIC EDUCATION & INFORMATION ACTIVITIES

Each Safe Community coordinator in their area will conduct public education and information activities.  The coordinator will be required to conduct at least one event each week.  The WV State Police coordinator will also conduct one activity each week within their troop area.  In coordinating these efforts, 780 public education and information activities will be conducted statewide during a one-year period.  Approved examples of public education and information activities are as follows:
 

Ø       Presenting information on drunk driving to a group such as school classes, civic groups, church groups, in a face to face setting
Ø       Presenting information on drunk driving through a media outlet such as TV, radio, newspaper, or magazine article.
Ø       Presenting information on drunk driving at a fair, or festival.
Ø       Phantom Checkpoint – Officers set up signs and prepare to conduct a regular checkpoint without actually moving into the roadway and conducting the checkpoint.  Officers may repeat this procedure more than once and at several locations during the shift.  This activity will give the impression that sobriety checkpoints are everywhere while educating the public that the police will catch the people who are driving impaired.
 

MEDIA ACTIVITIES

Each Safe Community coordinator and WV State Police coordinator will be required to conduct at least one media activity per week within his or her area or troop.  A media activity involves the coverage of an ongoing event or dissemination of information through a media outlet.  This combined effort will result in at least 780 media activities a year.  Media activities include the following:

Ø       TV, Radio, Newspaper, Magazine coverage of a DUI related activity.
Ø       TV, Radio, Newspaper, Magazine used to relay DUI related information to the public.
Ø       Billboard or other outdoor media (e.g. stadium ad, movies)
 

TRAINING ACTIVITIES

The Governor’s Highway Safety Program has developed and the Law Enforcement Training Sub-committee has certified for law enforcement in-service credit several training classes focusing on DUI issues.  A training cadre consisting of ten instructors to instruct these classes shall be maintained by the “Governor’s Highway Safety Program.”  All classes offered by the Governor’s Highway Safety Program shall be free of charge to any member of law enforcement agencies. The following classes are available:

Ø       SFST Refresher Course – This is a recertification class for SFST.  This is an 8-hour class and offered 16 times a year.
Ø       Presentation of Evidence at DMV Administrative – This class is designed to assist officers in preparing for and presenting evidence at a DMV Administrative Hearing.  We will offer this class 8 times a year.
Ø       Mobile Video In-Car Camera – This class will teach officers how to effectively use in-car video camera systems. We will offer this class 8 times a year.  In addition, all 600 members of the WV State Police during their annual in-service training shall receive this course.
Ø       Managing Sobriety Checkpoints – Supervisory level course for law enforcement supervisors who will be involved in the planning and supervision of sobriety checkpoints.  We will offer this class 8 times a year.
Ø       Operating Sobriety Checkpoints – This class is for law enforcement officers who operate the sobriety checkpoints.  We will offer this class 8 times a year.
Ø       Intoximeter Training – This class will instruct all law enforcement officers in the use of new breath testing equipment.  This training consists of a 4-hour block of instruction in conjunction with a general update of DUI enforcement in WV.  All law enforcement officers who have the forty-hour certification on the Intoxilizers will receive his course.

This is an ambitious training schedule; the Governor’s Highway Safety Program is offering forty-two training classes.  In addition to the forty-two training classes, every law enforcement officer will receive updated DUI training and instruction on the use of new breathe testing equipment.  Additionally, all 600 members of the WV State Police will receive Mobile Video training while at their in-service period at the West Virginia State Police Academy.
 

“AGE GROUP” ACTIVITIES

Safe community coordinators will conduct two “age group” specific activities per year in their area.  WV State Police coordinators will also conduct two “age group” specific activities per year in their troop area.  This totals 30 “age group” specific activities throughout the state.  In addition, each safe community coordinator will conduct one on-going alcohol project focusing on the 21-34 year old age group, bringing the total of age group specific activities to 38 statewide.  Age group specific activities include but are not limited to the following:

Ø       High School Prom Activity – Officer will assist schools during prom in monitoring for alcohol use.  Pre Prom visits by law enforcement to deter the use of alcohol.
Ø       High School Graduation Activity – Officer will be involved in alcohol free graduation parties.  Assist school personnel in the education of students concerning alcohol abuse.
Ø       High School Drivers Education Classes – Visits to Drivers Education Classes to educate students against driving while impaired.
Ø       College Age Project – Member of Highway Safety Staff has established a project with state colleges.
Ø       On Going Project for 21-34 age group – Safe community coordinators will work with area bars, distributors, and community agencies to establish an on going project to assist 21-34 age group in avoiding driving under the influence by finding alternative transportation.  (e.g. designated drivers, public transportation, and TIP’s Training)
 

UNDERAGE ACTIVITIES

The underage activities will result in one coordinated statewide enforcement effort and at least eight other local underage activities during the year.  The Safe Community Coordinators shall conduct underage activities; in addition to the High Visibility Enforcement Activities previously cited.

Ø       All Safe Community Coordinators and WV State Police Coordinators will conduct a statewide underage alcohol sting on the same night across the state.  The ABCC will be involved to enforce rules violations against owners of stores found in violation.
Ø      In addition to the statewide sting, each Safe Community Coordinator will conduct a minimum of one underage sting with an ABCC enforcement officer during the year.
 

FOCUSED PATROLS

In addition to the required enforcement activities, officers will conduct patrol activities focused on locating DUI drivers.  Officers will conduct this patrol during their regular duty focusing their activities on impaired drivers.  This activity does not replace the required weekly activity.  Safe Community Coordinators and WV State Police Coordinators will track DUI arrests made by on-duty officers to evaluate this area. 

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Demographics

Population & Area

Fatalities

Problem Statement

In 2003 according to the West Virginia Traffic Information System (TRIS), West Virginia had 50,386 crashes that injured 24,842 people, and killed 380.
 

Goal

To reduce traffic crashes, deaths, injuries, and property damage resulting there from.
 

Required Activities

Each Safe Community Project supported with GHSP funds must:
 

Coordination / Project Director
 

1)     Develop and support at least one (1) Advocacy Group (i.e. MADD, SADD, Safe Kids, Etc.), and

2)     Maintain a Directory of Highway Safety Advocates (i.e. Name, Address, Phone, E-Mail, etc.), and

3)     Establish and maintain a Task Force with a minimum of four (4) meetings per year (i.e. one meeting per quarter), and

4)     Establish and conduct a Regional Highway Safety Award / Recognition program, and

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