April is National Distracted Driving Awareness Month

 

In 2014, 3,179 people were killed, and 431,000 were injured in motor vehicle crashes involving distracted drivers. The official U.S. government website for distracted driving, Distraction.gov, defines distracted driving as "any activity that could divert a person's attention away from the primary task of driving." This includes:

 

Texting	Talking to passengers	Using a navigation system
Eating and drinking	Reading, including maps	Watching a video
Using a cell phone or smartphone	Adjusting a radio, CD player, or MP3 player	Grooming

"Our complacency is killing us," stated National Safety Council (NSC) President and CEO Deborah A.P. Hersman."The U.S. lags the rest of the developed world in addressing highway fatalities. We know what needs to be done; we just haven't done it." The NSC helps eliminate preventable deaths at work, in homes and communities, and on the road through leadership, research, education, and advocacy. Each year, the NSC observes April as Distracted Driving Awareness Month (DDAM) to draw attention to this national epidemic and empower individuals to put safety first and "Just Drive." Campuses and other organizations can download free DDAM materials including posters, fact sheets, and infographics to help spread safety messages throughout the month. Individuals may take the pledge to drive cell free and share the pledge on social media. The NSC also offers a free Cell Phone Policy Kit for employers that includes a sample policy, answers to frequently asked questions, newsletter articles, a cognitive distraction white paper, and much more.

 

Distraction.gov provides a variety of distracted driving resources such as PSAs, videos, posters, sample legislation and press releases, and social media posts in English and Spanish.

 

The U.S. Department of Transportation's National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has series of powerful distracted driving videos such as Liz Marks Texting & Driving Story that you can share with your campus community on social media. 

Free Webinar on Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design

 

In the modern world, deterring crime and countering violent extremism requires a comprehensive approach. Crime prevention through environmental design (CPTED) is an approach to creating a safer physical and built environment. CPTED is about designing for safety and acts as a "force multiplier."

 

 

This webinar is appropriate for a wide variety of disciplines including campus public safety officials, facilities and physical plant staff, student affairs personnel, builders, architects, project managers, codes personnel, and administrators. One person may register on behalf of a group of participants from one institution or organization. Space is limited, so register now to hold your seat!

Safe Call Now: A Resource for All First Responders

 

Safe Call Now® is a nonprofit organization that was launched nationally in 2010 with a mission to provide a confidential, comprehensive, 24-hour crisis referral service for all public safety employees, emergency services personnel, and their family members nationwide. In 2009, Washington State Lt. Governor Brad Owen, Congressman Dave Reichert, and Gil Kerlikowske, former director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy, helped pass legislation that protects all first responders nationwide, civilian support staff, and their family members with a confidentiality guarantee if they come forward and ask for help. This paved the way for the establishment of Safe Call Now.

 

Founder and president, Sean Riley, was a nearly 20-year police officer who almost lost his career and life due to alcohol and drug abuse from the emotional toll of the law enforcement profession. Rather than become another suicide statistic, Riley decided to act. He understood the stigma attached to officers coming forward to seek help for issues such as depression, PTSD, addiction, marital and relationship problems, and financial pressures on top of the enormous responsibilities that come with public safety and policing duties. Many try to put on a brave face and act as if nothing is wrong when, in reality, "they are dying inside emotionally" and do not know what to do or who to reach out to for help.

 

Safe Call Now is staffed by current and former law enforcement officers as well as public safety professionals. These trained peer advocates provide a supportive and understanding listening environment as well as assistance and resources for any public safety official, including those working on campuses, and family members who may be experiencing an emotional crisis. There is no mandatory reporting to a caller's department or agency, unless there is a call that involves the threat of injury to self or others. Safe Call Now does not keep records on file.

 

Professional Development Opportunities

Title: Campus Down: A College/University IT Failure Tabletop Exercise

Organization: Disaster Resistant Communities Group

Date: April 13, 2017

Location: Online

Fee: Registration fee

Information and Registration

Title: First Responder, Last Chance?

Organization: National Sheriffs' Association

Date: April 13, 2017 at 2:00PM ET

Location: Online

Fee: Free

Information and Registration

Title:  Physical Security and Asset Protection

Organization: Homeland Security Training Institute

Date: April 25, 2017  

Fee: Registration fee

Information and Registration