Every year hundreds of citizens in every community are injured due to traffic crashes. Traffic crash injuries are one of the most overlooked public health problems today, but we are working to change that. The Knox County Safe Communities Coalition is a community based program designed to promote safe driving practices and create awareness and prevention of injuries caused by traffic crashes.
The Knox County Safe Communities Coalition is funded by the Ohio Department of Public Safety and the Ohio Traffic Safety Office and is coordinated by Knox Public Health. The objective of Knox County Safe Communities is to promote community-based solutions to address transportation safety and other injury problems related to traffic safety.
Current programming includes, but is not limited to, Coffee with a Cop, seat belt checks, Rastin Challenge, local fairs and festivals, distribution of awareness materials with traffic safety messages including banners and posters at schools and businesses. The Safe Communities Coalition is comprised of the following agencies, Knox Public Health, Ohio State Highway Patrol, Knox County Sheriff's Office, Mount Vernon Police Department, Danville Police Department, Fredericktown Police Department, Fredericktown EMS, Central Ohio Joint Fire District, Eastern Knox County Joint Fire District, Knox County Prosecutor's Office, Knox Substance Abuse Action Team, OSU Extension, Ohio Department of Transportation, Ohio Department of Public Safety, and Ohio Traffic Safety Office.
Follow the Safe Communitites Knox County Facebook Page to stay up to date on upcoming events, local traffic safety trends, etc!
You can find the most up to date Knox County traffic statistics by visiting the Ohio State Highway Patrol's website.
If you are interested in joining the Safe Communities Coalition, or would like to sit in on a meeting, please view the schedule below.
2023 Meeting Schedule
The goal of the Drive to Succeed Scholarship Program is to expand access to driver’s education training for income-eligible teenagers by providing a scholarship to those who cannot afford to take driver’s education training. Knox Public Health will administer the program which is funded by a $15,000 grant from the Ohio Traffic Safety Office. Funding will be available to teenagers in Knox County from May 2023-December 2024.
Eligibility:
1. Students need to be between the ages of 15-17 to apply. A newly turned 15-year-old can apply, but they must be 15 years and 5 months to start the driving class.
2. Students must attend a Knox County public school including the Knox County Career Center, or a home school student who resides in Knox County.
3. Student applicants cannot: be a current licensed driver, have taken a driver’s education class before, or be currently enrolled in a driver’s education class.
4. Students need to show financial eligibility by providing documentation through one of the following programs:
A. School reduced/free lunch
B. WIC/SNAP
C. Medicaid Recipient
5. Students need to provide one letter of recommendation from a non-family member. Letter is recommended from a teacher, coach, or another school employee. Letter needs to address attendance, accountability and character of student who is applying for the scholarship.
Only fully-completed applications will be considered for the scholarship. Applications will be accepted anytime, but the selection committee will review and make selections in the following months; May, July, September, November, January and March.
Completed applications can be emailed to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., mailed, or dropped off at Knox Public Health, ATTN Amy Seward, 11660 Upper Gilchrist Rd., Mount Vernon, OH 43050. All applications will be held in confidentiality. The driving school will only be provided names of students who receive scholarship and no other information will be shared.
Once the student is selected and notified by a member of Knox Public Health, the student or parent/guardian will schedule the student driving education course through Coshocton Driver Training School, which provides classes in Mount Vernon.
The student will provide a $25 deposit to the school that will be then used for their driving test.
It is the responsibility of the student and or parent/guardian to schedule class with the driving school and for the student to abide by requirements of class attendance and driving instructions. Once the student completes the course, they will need to complete a follow up survey that is provided by Ohio Traffic Safety Office, which Amy Seward will help to facilitate.
If you have any questions or concerns about eligibility, contact Mike Whitaker, at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or 740.392.2200, ext. 2233.
