December Traffic Fatality Report

January 4, 2012

The Richland County Safe Communities Coalition reports that for the month of December there were four traffic deaths in Richland County. In 2011, there were thirteen (13) total traffic-related deaths. This is the highest total since fifteen (15) traffic-related fatalities were recorded in 2008. The highest recent total was in 2003 with eighteen (18) traffic-related fatalities.
 

The chart below reflects the five-year totals of traffic-related fatalities in Richland County:

According to the Federal Highway Administration’s comprehensive costs for traffic fatalities*, each fatality has a comprehensive cost of $6 million associated with it. The 13 fatalities this year cost Richland County $78 million.

“Traffic-related fatalities are nearly always avoidable,” said Selby Dorgan, Manager of Health Promotion/Education at the Mansfield/Ontario/Richland County Health Department and coordinator of the Safe Communities Coalition. “They usually result from poor driving habits such as speeding, tailgating or aggressive driving, and poor operator decisions such as impaired driving, distracted driving (including cell phone use or texting) or not wearing seat belts or motorcycle helmets.”

 Dorgan praised all law enforcement agencies in Richland County, partners in the Safe Communities Coalition, for their vigilance. “It’s important for us to encourage seat belt use and discourage impaired driving,” Dorgan said, “but we need law enforcement out there to drive the message home. Both parts are working together to ensure a safer Richland County.” 

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The “Safe Communities” program was developed through the Ohio Department of Public Safety. It is a data-driven initiative to save lives and reduce injuries by building collaborations between state, county, and local community partners.

*The 11 comprehensive cost components include property damage; lost earnings; lost household production (non-market activities occurring in the home); medical costs; emergency services; travel delay; vocational rehabilitation; workplace costs; administrative costs; legal costs; and pain and lost quality of life.

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