DELAWARE, Oh. — The Ohio Department of Public Safety’s (ODPS) Ohio Traffic Safety Office (OTSO) awarded $55,000 in federal traffic safety funding to the Delaware Public Health District. The funds are passed through OTSO from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration with a program called Ohio Safe Communities. to focus on traffic safety priority areas such as restraint use, impaired driving, distracted driving, motorcycle safety as well as mature and youthful drivers.

Safe Communities is a data-driven initiative to save lives and reduce traffic-related injuries through collaboration among state, county and local partners. The traffic safety efforts are led by a coalition called Safety Awareness for Everyone Delaware County (SAFE). The coalition conducts review of fatal crash data and focuses on collaborative promotion of traffic safety priority areas. such as restraint use, impaired driving, motorcycle safety as well as mature and youthful drivers.

In 2026 there are 42 countywide community-based programs. OTSO administers the Section 402 State and Community grants, related National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) awards and initiatives, and contracts for traffic safety activities. Competitive grant proposals are accepted and reviewed annually, with funds awarded to traffic safety projects that will have the greatest impact on reducing fatal crashes or that significantly improve traffic safety systems. Since partnerships are critical to the long-term success of a project effort, applicants are encouraged to develop broad-based support and commitment from officials and constituent groups toward addressing traffic safety concerns.


SAFE coalition meetings are held quarterly at 8:30am at the Delaware Public Health District, 470 South Sandusky Street, Delaware, Ohio. 2025-2026 Coalition Meetings are open to the public: Nov 4, 2025; Feb 5, 2026; May 7, 2026; Aug6, 2026; Nov 5, 2026.

SAFE coalition meetings are held quarterly at 8:30am at the Delaware Public Health District, 470 South Sandusky Street, Delaware, Ohio. 2025-2026 Coalition Meetings: Nov 4, 2025; Feb 5, 2026; May 7, 2026; Aug6, 2026; Nov 5, 2026.

Contact Jackie Bain, SAFE Coordinator
jbain@DelawareHealth.org | (740) 368-1700
Ohio Safe Communities | Ohio Traffic Safety Office