Traffic Fatalities In Ohio On The Rise
As of Sunday, there were 665 traffic fatalities in Ohio. By mid-August 2014, there were 571 confirmed fatalities due to traffic crashes, according to the Ohio State Highway Patrol. This trend is happening all over the country. According to the National Safety Council, the United States had a 14 percent spike in traffic fatalities during the first half of the year. The Illinois-based organization said that about 19,000 people died in traffic crashes through June, up from 16,180 for the same period in 2014. It should also be noted that these statistics do not take into account two of the years more dangerous months: July and August. The country could be witnessing the highest number of traffic-related deaths since 2007.
Given these numbers, you can expect a greater push by the Ohio State Highway Patrol, the Ohio Department of Transportation, the Ohio Public Safety Department and the Governors Highway Safety Association to crack down on issues affecting traffic fatalities. What will they target? Educated guesses usually include people who are driving impaired, not wearing a seat belt, or driving while distracted — or all of the above.
