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01/09/15 LICKING COUNTY, OHIO – The Licking County Health Department’s Safe Communities Coalition provides a traffic fatality update quarterly to the county. It is the coalition’s mission to educate the public about the consequences of drinking and driving, reckless driving, driving without a seat beat, among other traffic safety messages.
Miami University conducted a pre- and post-observational seat belt survey April and May 2014 around the National Click It or Ticket campaign. These surveys were conducted in five locations in Licking County. According to the survey’s data, the county’s seat belt use rate is 92.2 percent - one of the highest in the state. However, crash reports are still indicating a need to continue educating the public on proper seat belt use in Licking County.
Last quarter, Sept. 1 – Dec. 31, 2014, the Licking County Safe Communities program reported three fatal crashes in Licking County. Additionally, there were a total of 16 fatal crashes, causing 18 fatalities, for the 2014 year in Licking County.
This number is down from four fatal crashes for the same period (Sept. 1 – Dec. 31) in 2013. However, there was an increase in total fatal crashes from 2013 to 2014, with only 14 total fatal crashes reported in 2013.
Of the total fatalities for 2014, 66.6 percent (12 out of 18) were not wearing seat belts at the time of the crash. Of the reported fatalities during the quarter, one person was not wearing a seat belt. Additionally, five of the 18 fatalities were under the age of 18 and none of these individuals were wearing seat belts at the time of the crash.
Statistically, young drivers are more likely not to wear seat belts while in a vehicle and have a greater risk for fatal crashes than any other age group. Proper seat belt use can reduce the risk of fatal injury to front seat passengers by an estimated 45 percent and reduce the risk of moderate to serious injury by an estimated 50 percent, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).
The impact of these preventable traffic accidents goes beyond the immediate incident. According to the AAA Auto Club, each fatality has a comprehensive cost of more than $6 million associated with it. This estimate, which combines both economic costs and values for “intangible” consequences, is made by estimating quality-adjusted life years lost.
Using this cost data, the 18 fatalities in 2014 cost Licking County an estimated $108 million.
Heading into the New Year, the Licking County Safe Communities Coalition encourages everyone to buckle up, every trip, every time. Drivers should remember that driving is a privilege, not a right, and it is important to drive sober, alert and buckled every time.
The program will continue to promote these messages into the New Year. For more information about the Safe Communities visit the Safe Communities webpage.
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