Troopers will be targeting crash-causing violations throughout Ross and Pike Counties. So far this year, fatal and injury traffic crashes have increased sharply with five fatalities resulting from four traffic crashes. During the same time frame last year, there was only one fatality.
“Fatal crashes this year have been contributed to three causative factors; unsafe speed, failure to yield, and assured clear distance ahead” said Lt. Timothy Karwatske, Post Commander of the Chillicothe Patrol Post. In addition, four of the individuals killed were not wearing an available safety belt.
Troopers along with our local law enforcement partners will be out in full force over the course of the next few weeks to remind motorists to slow down, maintain their focus on the roadway, drive sober, and put their cell phones down, as well as ensuring they buckle up.
According to preliminary data, violations associated with distracted driving continue to increase. Distracted driving is any non-driving activity with the potential to distract a person from the primary task of driving and increase the risk of crashing. Distractions can be visual, taking eyes off of the road; manual, taking hands off the wheel; or cognitive, taking the mind off of driving. Texting while driving is an example that results in all three types of distraction.
“We are finding that many times people who drive left-of-center or fail-to-yield are distracted. Troopers at the Chillicothe Post are urging people to slow down, focus on the task at hand, and to wear their safety belts,” said Lt. Karwatske.