A spike in Ohio traffic deaths and car accidents has led to major concerns for the Ohio State Highway Patrol, as well as for motorists traveling on Ohio’s roadways this holiday season.
Just recently, several Ohio motorists lost their lives in accidents on State Route 756 and on U.S. 40 near New Carlisle. And this year alone, more than 900 people have been killed in Ohio traffic collisions a statistic that is up nine percent from last year.
According to the Ohio Safety Patrol, there areĀ various reasonsĀ for the increase in Ohio traffic deaths, with the most notable reason being human error.
Distracted drivingĀ has become a major culprit behind vehicle collisions, as people continue to text and use their cell phones while behind the wheel.
Although law enforcement officers issue citations to people caught displaying such distracted driving behavior, it still remains a huge safety issue for Ohio drivers.
Distracted driving lags just behindĀ drunk driving, which is the leading cause of traffic fatalities across the nation.
According to the American Automobile Association (AAA), drug-impaired driving is also on the rise in Ohio, as state officials continue to battle a problematic heroin epidemic. In fact, the Ohio State Highway Patrol has reported more than 11,000 drug-impaired driving violations to date.
Although most car accidents are caused by human error, many car wrecks can be attributed to collisions with deer, particularly during the rut (deer mating season) which lasts from October through December.
Use special caution when driving on roadways that may have deer nearby, as they tend to dart without warning and can cause property damage, as well as significant injuries.
Safety officials from the Ohio Safety Patrol caution drivers to remain alert at all times while using roadways.Ā If you are on the roadways this holiday season, be sure to stay focused on driving.
If you witness any negligent or unusual behavior on the roadway, report it immediately to the appropriate authorities.
And as always, be sure to wear your seat belt.
If you’ve been injured in an auto accident, the experiencedĀ car accident attorneysĀ at O’Connor,Ā AccianiĀ & Levy are here to support you and help you get the compensation and justice you deserve. OurĀ injury lawyersĀ also charge no upfront fees if we take on your case.