Resource Officer

Responsible Driving


Obey the posted speed limits


Many people have misconceptions about the safety of speeding. Some argue that “everyone is doing it” or that they are just going with the flow of traffic. However, excessive speed, failure to control, and failure to yield cause almost 50 percent of fatal crashes in Ohio.


  • On average, 1,000 Americans are killed every month in speed related crashes.
  • Of all drivers 15-24 years old involved in fatal car crashes, 32 percent were speeding.


Speeding reduces a driver’s ability to steer safely around objects in the roadway, extends the distance necessary to stop a vehicle, and increases the distance a vehicle travels while the driver reacts to a dangerous situation.

REMEMBER

School Zones are 20 m.p.h.

Freeways paved with shoulder inside municipal corp. is 55 m.p.h.

Inside city limits speeds vary from 25-to 45 m.p.h.

Designated interstate highways outside of urban areas are 65-70 m.p.h.be aware of posted speed limit signs

Also be aware of construction zone speed limits.

Be a safe driver and arrive alive.


Winter Driving Tips

According to the Ohio Revised Code section: 4503.21


No person who is the owner OR operator of a motor vehicle shall fail to display in plain view on the front and rear of the motor vehicle the distinctive number and registration mark, including any county identification sticker and any validation sticker. Ex: If your vehicle is registered in Wayne county there will be a sticker bearing the number, 85. The other sticker will be the month and year of the expiration of the vehicles' yearly registration. The county number is to be placed on the lower left side of the plate; the valid expiration sticker is to be placed on the lower right side of the plate.


All license plates shall be securely fastened so as not to swing, and shall not be covered by any material that obstructs their visibility. This includes SNOW.


Under the Administration section of the Ohio Revised Code 4513.241: Using tinted glass and other vision obscuring materials.


Not only does this apply to window tint less than 50%, it also applies to SNOW/ICE covered windows. If you are driving a vehicle that has windows/windshield including the rear window that are covered with snow/ice you are operating an unsafe vehicle. This is a primary offense that can get you pulled over and cited. If there are multiple violations to a single driver the penalties increase.


TIP: During the winter months when snowfall accumulates drivers need to be prepared with leaving sooner to get to their destinations, drivers' should prepare their vehicle for safe travel. Having an ice scraper in the vehicle will be helpful; using a broom to remove snow from the vehicle will also help with making your vehicle safe to operate. If you can, let your vehicle warm up, some vehicle's are equipped with a rear defrost, engage that button to help break up the snow and ice on the rear window making it easier to remove the snow/ice.

ANY DRIVER UNDER THE AGE OF 18 YEARS OLD

THE OHIO REVISED CODE STATES THAT NO DRIVER UNDER 18 YEARS OF AGE MAY NOT OPERATE A MOTOR VEHICLE ON ANY STREET, HIGHWAY, OR PROPERTY OPEN TO THE PUBLIC FOR VEHICULAR TRAFFIC WHILE USING A HANDHELD ELECTRONIC WIRELESS DEVICE TO WRITE, SEND, OR READ A TEXT-BASED COMMUNICATION. IF YOU ARE A DRIVER UNDER 18 YEARS OF AGE, THIS IS A PRIMARY STOP AND YOU CAN BE ISSUED A CITATION. NO CELL PHONES, NO GPS, NO IPOD, ETC.

PRIMARY STOP


ANY TRAFFIC VIOLATION THAT WILL GET YOU PULLED OVER. FOR EXAMPLE: SPEEDING, NO TURN SIGNAL WHEN TURNING, IMPROPER LANE CHANGE, WRECKLESS DRIVING, UNDER 18 YEARS OF AGE USING AN ELECTRONIC DEVICE. ETC. SOME EQUIPMENT VIOLATIONS: HEADLIGHT OUT, LICENSE PLATE LIGHT NOT ILLUMINATING VEHICLE PLATE (NIGHT), OBJECTS HANGING FROM VEHICLE, CRACKED WINDSHIELD, NO FRONT/REAR LICENSE PLATE, ETC.


SOME LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES ARE REQUIRED TO CONTACT PARENTS/GUARDIANS TO INFORM THEM OF THE TRAFFIC STOP IF THE DRIVER IS A JUVENILE. (THESE ARE JUST SOME EXAMPLES, NOT ALL PRIMARY VIOLATIONS ARE LISTED)


SECONDARY STOP EXAMPLE


ALTHOUGH IT IS REQUIRED BY OHIO LAW TO WEAR SEAT BELTS, FAILING TO WEAR SEAT BELT IS A SECONDARY VIOLATION. A DRIVER CANNOT BE STOPPED SOLELY FOR NOT WEARING THEIR SEAT BELT; AND A DRIVER MUST FIRST BE COMMITTING A PRIMARY VIOLATION TO BE CITED FOR NOT WEARING A SEAT BELT. A DRIVER COULD BE FACING MORE THAN ONE CITABLE OFFENSE IF COMMITTING A PRIMARY VIOLATION AND NOT WEARING THEIR SEAT BELT.

HIGH SCHOOL PARKING LOT SPEED LIMIT


REMINDER, THE POSTED SPEED LIMIT FOR THE DALTON HIGH SCHOOL PARKING LOT IS 15 M.P.H. AFTER MANY HOURS OF OBSERVATION THROUGHOUT THE SCHOOL DAY AS WELL AS AFTER SCHOOL ACTIVITIES IT HAS COME TO MY ATTENTION THAT MANY DRIVERS ENTERING AND EXITING THE HIGH SCHOOL PARKING LOT ARE NOT AWARE OF THE POSTED SPEED LIMIT.

IF YOU DIDN'T KNOW, NOW YOU KNOW. AND KNOWING IS HALF THE BATTLE!