As the federal fiscal year comes to a close for the Safe Communities of Pickaway County program, the Fatal Review Committee went over one fatality for the final quarter of the year. The Committee discussed what areas of the county are the most dangerous for crashes and fatalities, and made recommendations for what members can do to limit the number of deaths on area roadways.
Fatalities for the calendar year 2014 are actually down from last year. According to statistics, deaths on local roadways are down by 6 county-wide. In the state of Ohio, fatalities are down by 80 from last year. Although this completes the fiscal year on an optimistic note, Safe Communities Director Teresa C. Carper warns that this is not a reason to not take safety seriously. “September in Ohio brings a cause for concern for those of us that promotes traffic safety”, she explained to the members of the committee. “Although there are no concrete reasons, September has historically been a month that fatalities rise across the state. It tells us to make sure we follow traffic safety recommendations every time we get behind the wheel of a motor vehicle.”
The Committee also discussed plans to add new members, and proactively make recommendations for changes that would possibly reduce the number of crashes and deaths on roadways in Pickaway County. The Committee noted that some safety measures could be taken to reduce the severity of crashes, and that US 23 needs to be an area of priority for enforcement.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration provides funds that support the local Safe Communities program, and the High Visibility Enforcement Overtime grant held by the Pickaway County Sheriff’s Office. NHTSA has a website with safety information for organizations and individuals at www.nhtsa.gov .
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