There were 1,106 traffic deaths in 2015 compared with 1,008 in 2014. This total is about 10% more than the previous year.
Just to recap, there were several factors that contributed to the increase in 2015 compared to 2014:
- The economy improved, gas prices were lower and people drove more.
- Travel last year increased about 3 percent in Ohio and about 3.4 percent nationally.
- Gas prices plummeted by at least 30%.
- Ohio had a bad January and February for traffic deaths. It leveled off in March and April, then spiked in May, which was the worst May in a decade. August was also the worst in a decade.
- Overall, we had higher increases in crashes involving pedestrians, bicycles, older drivers, and large trucks.
- In December, we had 20 pedestrian-related deaths, the highest in 10 years. Many of these deaths occurred at night.
- However, the majority of traffic deaths in 2015 involved roadway departure, unbelted drivers and passengers, speed, alcohol and young drivers between the ages of 15 and 25.
So far this year, Ohio has had 45 traffic deaths compared to 73 last year. That’s a 38% reduction. No doubt we have been helped by a mild winter, so far.
Of the 2016 fatal crash reports we can access:
- 12 were in urban areas
- 24 were in rural areas
- 2 involved pedestrians
- 1 involved a motorcycle, and
- 6 involved commercial motor vehicles (CMVs)
- I’m sure many of these crashes also involved speeding, unbelted drivers or passengers, alcohol, and young drivers.