2022 traffic fatality report shared

2022 traffic fatality report shared
Submitted

Safe Communities Coalition held a Safety Day event in Uhrichsville in May 2022.

                        

From Jan. 1, 2022, to Dec. 31, 2022, the Ohio State Highway Patrol reported a total of 2,410 vehicle crashes investigated in Tuscarawas County. Of the 2,410 crashes investigated, Tuscarawas County experienced 10 fatal crashes with 11 crash fatalities. The highest crash routes in Tuscarawas County in 2022 were state Route 39, Interstate 77, U.S. Route 250, state Route 416 and state Route 800.

“The top-two traffic safety priorities in Tuscarawas County continue to be educating the public on the importance of seat-belt usage and the dangers of driving impaired,” said Abbie Benton, Safe Communities program coordinator for the Tuscarawas County Health Department. “Of the passenger vehicle occupants killed in Tuscarawas County crashes during 2022, 89% were not buckled at the time of the crash, and 55% of the total fatal crashes involved some type of impairment. Other contributing factors in the fatal crashes were mature and youthful drivers along with speed and motorcycle related crashes.”

To help prevent fatal traffic crashes and injuries from occurring in Tuscarawas County, the local Safe Communities Coalition conducts traffic safety media campaigns, coordinates events and activities, and distributes educational materials year round.

Led by the Tuscarawas County Health Department, the coalition is comprised of partners from various county agencies and organizations.

“Our partners are essential to the success of the Safe Communities traffic safety efforts,” Benton said. “We are grateful for their continued support and commitment to improving traffic safety in Tuscarawas County.”

The Safe Communities Coalition will bring back the Teen Roadeo event this year, where they will work with teens from local high schools to educate youth about the importance of safe driving. The group also spends time educating the driving population of Tuscarawas County on impaired driving, seat-belt use, distracted driving and motorcycle awareness.

On Feb. 15 members of the Safe Communities Coalition will meet to review the traffic fatalities from the fourth quarter of 2022 to identify any trends or measures that can be taken to prevent future traffic fatalities.

To learn more about the Safe Communities project, email healthed@tchdnow.org or visit www.tchdnow.org/safe-communities.html.

Efforts of the Safe Communities Coalition are funded through a grant from the Ohio Traffic Safety Office. For more information about OTSO and state-wide efforts to improve safety on Ohio’s roadways, visit www.ohiohighwaysafetyoffice.ohio.gov/index.stm.


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