Traffic deaths up in Ohio, across nation
Ohio Highway Patrol points to people not wearing seat belts as one reason.
Traffic fatalities in the United States increased by 9 percent in the first half of 2016 compared to 2015, according to estimates from the National Safety Council.
About 19,100 people were killed in traffic accidents from January through June, which also is an 18 percent increase from the first half of 2014. There has been an estimated 2.2 million people seriously hurt.
“Our complacency is killing us,” said Deborah A.P. Hersman, the nonprofit safety council’s president and CEO. “Americans should demand change to prioritize safety actions and protect ourselves from
one of the leading causes of preventable death.”
Including 53 provisional fatalities, traffic deaths are also up in Ohio this year — 718 through Aug. 23 compared to 702 at the same point in 2015.
“I think the biggest thing that we’ve seen ... is un-belted fatalities are up this year,” said Ohio State Highway Patrol Sgt. Vincent Shirey, who said 61 percent of all traffic deaths in the past five years — including 473 out of 776 in 2015 — are from people not held back by restraints. “People just aren’t wearing their seat belts.”
In Ohio, police can’t pull over motorists solely for that reason.
“It’s a secondary violation, meaning that a law enforcement officer needs to have other probable cause to stop a vehicle if someone’s not wearing their seat belt, so speeding or failure to yield or marked lanes or something like that,” Shirey said.
Most area counties have seen fewer fatal crashes than last year, but there are exceptions. Montgomery County had seen 32 (an increase of five year to date) before a fatal crash Wednesday on Interstate 70 in Huber Heights. Champaign County has had five (two more) and Preble County, with seven, had an increase of one over last year.
Butler County has had 12 fatal crashes (seven less than last year), Clark seven (nine fewer), Darke four (two fewer), Greene five (same), Miami five (three fewer) and Warren nine (two fewer).
The accident Wednesday occurred after a trooper saw two vehicles going faster than 100 mph. One slowed down while the other sped up, then exited off onto Ohio State Route 201.
The male driver “came through a red light intersection, into the grass, went airborne for a short distance, and struck a utility pole which resulted in his fatality,” said Lt. Mark Nichols. The accident took down power lines and resulted in the roadway being closed for hours.
The National Safety Council recommends that every passenger buckles up, that an alcohol- or drug-free driver is designated, that drivers get enough sleep and take breaks and never use a cellphone while driving even if it’s hands-free.
The NSC said a stronger economy, lower unemployment and lower gas prices are factors leading to a 3.3 percent increase in the number of miles driven to an estimated 1.58 trillion in 2016’s first half, a number calculated by the Federal Highway Administration.
The states with the biggest increases that began in late 2014 include Vermont, up 82 percent; Oregon, 70 percent; New Hampshire, 61 percent; Idaho, 46 percent and Florida, 43 percent.
If the national traffic fatality rate continued, the U.S. could see 40,000 fatalities for the first time in nine years.
The NSC estimates that 438 people will be killed during this year’s three-day Labor Day weekend. In Ohio, 11 people died in auto accidents during that holiday weekend in 2015.
“Make sure you designate your sober motorist and always buckle up,” Shirey said. “Make sure not only yourself but everyone in the vehicle is buckled up as well, all of your passengers.
“And plan ahead. That’s a big thing that we encourage people to do is before you get to where you’re going, have a plan in place if you plan on drinking . ... Don’t go in without a plan, because then you might make poor decisions later that evening.” Contact this reporter at 937225-6951 or email Mark. Gokavi@coxinc.com.