Patrol urges motorists to drive safely

The Ohio Highway Patrol, in an effort to reduce accidents and keep Ohio’s roadways safe, is once again urging motorists to drive safely.

September is Safe Driving Awareness month and the OHP is asking motorists to commit to driving sober, focused and buckled up not only during the month but anytime they take to the road.

OHP lists obeying the speed limit, never driving impaired by drugs or alcohol, always wearing a seat belt, leaving a safe following distance and never text and drive as common sense driving tips that if followed could reduce the potential for crashes.

Motorists who plan ahead, allow extra time and follow the traffic safety laws help keep the roadways safe.

OHP reports that in 2017, there were 1,094 accidents on Ohio’s roadways that resulted in 1,179 deaths. Those numbers reflect a 4 percent increase from 2016.

Also in 2016, Ohio ranked seventh in the nation in total number of fatal crashes.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, fatalities rose by 6 percent nationwide in 2016.

While statewide crashes and fatalities have increased between 2016 and 2017, locally the numbers for Lake, Lorain and Geauga counties have seen a very slight decrease.

Between 2013 and 2017, there were 1,462,867 motor vehicles crashes in Ohio, which averages out to approximately 292,573 each year. And each year there are an average of 1,084 deaths and 106,035 people injured as a result of crashes.

For 2018, provisional data shows that as of Sept. 11, there have been 189, 814 crashes resulting in 744 fatalities statewide. Cuyahoga County has had 20,437 accidents resulting in 41 deaths. In Geauga County 1,164 crashes resulted in five fatalities. Lake County has seen 2,941 crashes with eight deaths while Lorain’s 4,234 crashes have left 15 dead this year.

In addition to lives lost, motor vehicle crashes can have a huge economic impact. NHTSA’s most recent data dates back to 2010 and shows the estimated economic cost nationally for crashes that year was $242 billion. Factors figured into that total include: lost productivity, workplace losses, legal and court expenses, medical costs, emergency medical services, insurance administration costs, congestion costs, and property damage costs.

“The cost represents the tangible losses that result from motor vehicles crashes,” the NHTSA said. “However, in cases of serious injury or death, such costs fail to capture the rather intangible value of lost quality-of-life that results from those injuries.”

Of the $242 billion, the largest portion of it was attributed to alcohol or speeding related crashes, $44 billion was attributed to alcohol related crashes and $52 million was the cost of speeding related crashes.

According to the NHTSA, the total value of societal harm from motor vehicle crashes after factoring in the estimated amount for quality-oflife valuations in 2010 totaled an estimated $836 billion.

“Ohio’s roadways are safer when motorists devote their full attention to the road,” Lt. Roberts, post commander of the Chardon Post said. “Motorists can reduce their risk of getting into a crash by sharing the road, buckling up and never driving impaired or distracted.”

As always, the Patrol asks drivers to call #677 to report impaired drivers or drug activity.

For 2018, provisional data shows that as of Sept. 11, there have been 189, 814 crashes resulting in 744 fatalities statewide. Cuyahoga County has had 20,437 accidents resulting in 41 deaths. In Geauga County 1,164 crashes resulted in five fatalities. Lake County has seen 2,941 crashes with eight deaths while Lorain’s 4,234 crashes have left 15 dead this year.