Cleveland has hundreds of surface streets and numerous interstates and highways that facilitate motor vehicle traffic. Most area residents drive regularly to get to work and take care of their families. Businesses also rely on transportation to get the materials and goods they require or deliver items to their consumers.
Driving has largely become a part of daily life, and people tend to ignore the degree of risk involved. Motorists in the Cleveland area might want to hear some concerning traffic safety statistics. Those statistics might inspire them to make safer choices on their next drive.
Thousands of people die in crashes annually
Between 2019 and 2020, there were 6,262 reported fatalities caused by car crashes caused by 5,773 collisions. Some of those collisions claimed numerous lives in a single instance. Motor vehicle collisions are a leading cause of death for people in all age groups in Ohio. For some age groups, car crashes are the top-reported cause of premature mortality.
Cuyahoga County is the second most dangerous in the state
Between 2019 and 2023, Cuyahoga County saw far more crashes than almost any other county in the state. The Cleveland area saw 487 deadly crashes in those years. Franklin County was the only county with more crashes. Franklin County had 570 crashes over those five years, while most other counties had far fewer. Hamilton County took third place on the list with 319 crashes, while Montgomery County had 286 wrecks. Combined with the 225 wrecks in Lucas County, those five counties accounted for about a third of all reported crashes in the state.
Obviously, drivers don’t want to avoid motor vehicle travel just because of the risk involved in driving. However, people do need to be aware of the likelihood of a major wreck. Safety experts reference speeding, distraction and other common unsafe conduct, like failing to yield the right of way, as the underlying causes in the vast majority of those collisions.
Focusing on personal safety can substantially reduce someone’s likelihood of a major car wreck. Those affected by car wrecks, including those grieving the death of a loved one, may need to go to civil court if insurance isn’t enough to cover their losses.