TROOPER ROB

This article may have been seen recently in other news releases, but I would like to remind readers of two events.

Drug disposal
Just a reminder that ton  Saturday, the Michigan State Police (MSP) will partner
with the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and other local law enforcement agencies for National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day to provide a venue for citizens to dispose of unwanted and unused prescription drugs.

MSP’s 29 posts will participate in the one-day ‘Take-Back’ effort between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. Saturday, by serving as drop-off points for citizens to discard expired, unused and unwanted medications for destruction. No liquids, inhalers, patches or syringes will be accepted. The service is free and anonymous with no questions asked.

National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day addresses a public safety and public health issue. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, enough prescription painkillers were prescribed in 2010 to medicate every American adult around-the-clock for one month. Often, some of these medicines languish in the home and are highly susceptible to diversion, misuse and abuse. Rates of prescription drug abuse in the U.S. are alarmingly high — more Americans currently abuse prescription drugs than the number of those using cocaine, hallucinogens, heroin and inhalants combined, according to the 2010 National Survey on Drug Use and Health. Studies show that the majority of teens who abuse prescription drugs obtain them from family and friends for free, including from the home medicine cabinet.

The Niles Law Enforcement Complex (Niles Post) will participate. We have a permanent drop box that can be used anytime.

Motorcylce gear
I would also like to remind motorcyclists of our latest campaign. Motorcyclists are urged to wear high-visibility gear in new campaign. Motorcyclists are being urged to ride defensively and make themselves more easily seen by wearing high-visibility riding gear through the federally funded Ride Safe to Ride Again campaign. This is the first time the effort has urged the use of gear that enhances both daytime and nighttime visibility of motorcyclists to the motoring public and includes the use of colors, such as fluorescent red, orange, yellow or green and retro-reflective trim.

The Ride Safe to Ride Again campaign, sponsored by the Michigan Office of Highway Safety Planning (OHSP), recognizes that the best person to look out for a motorcycle rider’s safety is the rider.

In previous years, the campaign has concentrated on key skills riders need to know to avoid being injured or killed in a crash.

In Michigan, more than 10 percent of traffic fatalities annually involve motorcycles. The average age of motorcyclists killed is 43 and more than 90 percent of riders killed are male. In 2012, 129 motorcyclists died in traffic crashes, an increase from 109 in 2011.

In the past decade, motorcycle fatalities have increased largely because of a surge in motorcycle ownership.

Many riders are Baby Boomers who are newly entering or re-entering riding. In recent years, OHSP has helped support state-sponsored training programs to increase opportunities for riders to get basic, remedial and advanced training.

The Ride Safe to Ride Again campaign features federally funded cable, television, radio and internet ads in Metro Detroit and West Michigan. From 2007 to 2011, almost half of all fatal and serious injury motorcycle crashes occurred in Wayne, Oakland, Macomb, Kent, Genesee, Washtenaw, Ottawa and Muskegon counties.

The campaign also includes information about rider training and safety tips at www.ridesafetorideagain.com. The television ad can be viewed at www.youtube.com/ohsp.

We would like all citizens to take responsibility for their safety and do your part to keep safe.

Email questions and comments to Trooperrob53@yahoo.com.

— Niles Daily Star