Lt. William N. Bowers, Commander
Bowling Green Post of the Ohio State Highway Patrol
We all know the slogans: Click It or Ticket,” “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over,” “Stay Alive, Don’t Text and Drive,” and “Watch Out for Motorcycles.” We hear them every day, but do we really take them to heart? Do we honestly follow these messages every day?
The messages are simple and catchy, but only 81% of all drivers in Wood County wear their seat belt. In 2016, seat belts were worn in only 31% of fatal crashes, 13% of fatal crashes involved alcohol, 5% of all crashes involved some type of distraction, and 34 crashes involved motorcycles. These numbers are disturbing to me as well as my staff as we strive to keep you save on Wood County roads.
We all need to do our part to make Wood County a safer place to live and travel in. Look twice at each stop sign you stop at every day. Follow the speed limit, both in town and on the interstate. Buckling up is the most important safety measure you can take to protect yourself in a crash as it helps keep you safe and secure inside your vehicle. Seat belts are also the best defense against impaired, aggressive, and distracted drivers. Put your phone on vibrate, place it out of reach, and give 100% of your attention to driving.
Lastly, be an example to those in your car. Your children are watching every move you make, and you are grooming them for their habits as drivers. Parents often subscribe to a “do as I say, not as I do” mentality, but studies show parents are unknowingly sabotaging their teen drivers by not practicing what they preach. Parents figuratively beat teens over the head with the “never text and drive” message, yet many do it on a regular basis. Some 47% of teenagers have witnessed their parents driving without wearing seat belts. Let’s practice what we preach!
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