Experts look to drivers for ideas

Four state agencies are working together to make Ohio's highways safer.
By NANCY TULLIS
VINDICATOR STAFF WRITER
YOUNGSTOWN -- The experts have studied and brainstormed, and produced charts and graphs.
Now they are in search of ideas from area motorists, the people who drive Ohio's highways each day.
State Routes 46 and 193 through Mahoning and Trumbull counties are among the state's most deadly highways, according to studies done by the Ohio State Highway Patrol, Governor's Task Force on Highway Safety, Ohio Public Safety and Ohio Department of Transportation. The four groups are combining efforts for Ohio's Corridor Safety Program, started by Gov. Bob Taft in January in an effort to reduce traffic crashes and fatalities along some of the state's long stretches of highway.
Capt. John Born of the Ohio State Highway Patrol headquarters in Columbus said Ohio averages three traffic deaths each day. In many cases, the fatalities could have been prevented, because drinking and driving, speeding and not wearing a seat belt are the top causes of crash fatalities.
Michelle May of ODOT said Northeast Ohio tops the list for drivers not wearing seat belts, and the area also has a high rate of alcohol-impaired drivers. May gave information about Ohio's Corridor Safety Program, including specifics about highway conditions and fatal crashes on Routes 193 and 46.
Disturbing numbers
For the period 1999 to 2003, there were 15 fatal crashes on the 71-mile stretch of Route 46 from the Mahoning-Columbiana County line to Ashtabula County. According to the report, most of the crashes were in Niles and west of Youngstown; 70 percent were at night; seat belts were not used in 64 percent of the crashes; and 60 percent involved alcohol.
Statistics for the same period on Route 193 from the Mahoning-Trumbull County line north through Ashtabula County were 10 fatal crashes along a 57-mile stretch with most crashes in southern Trumbull County. Seat belts were not used in 60 percent of the fatal crashes; 40 percent involved alcohol; and 53 percent involved drivers 26 and younger.
Visitors and experts at Wednesday's OCSP meeting at Youngstown State University discussed enforcement and education techniques as well as options for road improvements and better planning of highways and housing developments.
Born said ideas are needed from the driving public because education, enforcement or engineering alone don't solve problems.
May said officials of the four agencies will be collecting ideas and comments from the public through the end of the year. Information and a comment form are at http://corridorsafety.ohio.gov.