These showcases provide an opportunity for State Highway Safety Offices to share their program successes and innovative practices or learn from what's happening in other states.
The West Virginia Governor’s Highway Safety Program (GHSP) used grant funding from GHSA and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to hold a multiday training session to educate participants on different aspects of drugged driving cases and the prosecution process.
The West Virginia GHSP partnered with the West Virginia Traffic Safety Resource Prosecutor (TSRP) to organize a “West Virginia Prosecuting the Drugged Driver Course” in September 2019. Thirteen Assistant Prosecutors/Assistant Attorneys General and 12 drug recognition expert (DRE) officers attended.
The Oklahoma Highway Safety Office (OHSO) used grant funding from GHSA and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to develop standard operating procedures (SOPs) for two oral fluid testing devices. Oklahoma’s Board of Tests for Alcohol and Drug Influence approved these devices for use but required field testing to develop proper standard procedures.
The Rhode Island Department of Transportation Office of Highway Safety (RIDOT/OHS) used grant funding from GHSA and the Foundation for Advancing Alcohol Responsibility (Responsibility.org) to provide law enforcement training to enhance its efforts to combat drug impaired driving through a monthly training calendar for Advanced Roadside Impaired Driving Enforcement (ARIDE) classes.
In April of 2019, through a grant from Ford Driving Skills for Life (Ford DSFL) and GHSA, the Nebraska Department of Transportation Highway Safety Office (NDOT-HSO) educated 16 teen drivers about the importance of safe driving.
The Minnesota Office of Traffic Safety used grant funding from GHSA and the Foundation for Advancing Alcohol Responsibility (Responsibility.org) to host a Drug Recognition Expert (DRE) School October 2018 through January 2019. Law enforcement agencies were notified of the training opportunity through multiple postings and distribution through the DRE network, Minnesota Police Chief Association, Minnesota Sheriff Association, Law Enforcement Liaison networks and the Minnesota County Attorney Association.
In 2018, through a grant from the National Road Safety Foundation, the Nebraska Department of Transportation Highway Safety Office (NDOT-HSO) worked with two community colleges and one private college to carry out drowsy driving educational programming and present at lunch and learns. With the support of the local health district, NDOT-HSO was able to reach 300 students and approximately 500,000 citizens in the metro area during November and approximately 300,000 community members in the rural target counties during May and June.
