Safe Communities points out recent driving habits for awareness efforts
DOVER (WJER) (Oct. 12, 2022) – Members of Safe Communities of Tuscarawas County have some new information to use as they strive to improve the habits of local drivers.
The group’s third-quarter traffic fatality report from the Ohio State Highway Patrol indicates that two fatal accidents with two deaths occurred on Tuscarawas County roads from July through September.
Safe Communities Program Coordinator Abbie Benton says that’s one fewer death than the previous quarter, from April to June.
She says there have been seven traffic deaths in the county this year, compared to 11 for all of 2021.
The information also shows that 517 crashes occurred in Tuscarawas County during the third quarter, bringing the year’s total to over 1,500 as of the start of the month.
About 31 percent of drivers in those third-quarter crashes were not wearing seatbelts. In the second-quarter report, 26 percent of drivers involved in crashes were not wearing seat belts.
Benton says her committee has been more active in the community again this year, having hosted campaign kickoff events for Click It or Ticket in May and Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over in August. They’ve also been in attendance at 10 other events in the county so far.