Are you planning to hit the road for any stretch of time this summer? It’s a common seasonal tradition, taking advantage of the warm weather to get away for a bit.
It is not without risks.
According to the Ohio State Patrol, the stretch of weeks from Memorial Day Weekend through Labor Day is arguably the most dangerous time to be out driving. This period has even been described as the “100 deadliest days” of the year on Ohio roads. That’s because the increase in vehicle traffic during these months leads to more crashes – and consequently, a higher chance of suffering serious injuries or even death.
Just how dangerous is it?
The state patrol provided some figures to put this danger into context. These 100 days take up 28% of the calendar year. Yet more than one-third of the year’s fatal crashes and deaths happen during this stretch. In addition, an estimated 55% of all motorcycle crashes in 2018 occurred over these 100 days.
It’s also worth noting motorcyclists face a high risk of serious consequences. Motorcycle crashes represented just 2% of all fatal wrecks during this 100-day period, but accounted for one-quarter of all traffic fatalities during that time.
The three counties with the highest number of crashes during this period in 2018 were:
- Franklin County – 9,552 crashes
- Cuyahoga County – 9,040
- Hamilton County – 8,288
Most common factors in crashes
The state patrol also tracked factors involved in crashes over the 100 deadliest days. The agency said it tallied 77,170 wrecks on Ohio roadways during this time in 2018 – that’s well over 700 a day. About 37% of fatal incidents during that stretch involved drunk or drugged driving, while 28% involved speeding.
In fact, speeding and drunk driving are two of the most common types of accidents we see here at the firm.
It is an unfortunate reality that you or a loved one might pay the price for another driver’s poor decisions. This reinforces the importance of being as responsible as possible for your own safety while behind the wheel.