Ohio traffic deaths this year could hit record low

COLUMBUS (AP) — Traffic deaths in Ohio could hit a record low this year.

Ohio State Highway Patrol statistics show that the state could even dip below 1,000 traffic fatalities this year for the first time since the state began keeping records, The Columbus Dispatch reported today.

There were 823 traffic deaths in Ohio through Monday, according to the patrol. That’s the lowest number to that date since 2011, when the year-end death toll was 1,016.

Officials attribute the improving numbers to people slowing down on the roads, troopers’ handling of traffic stops and collaboration between the patrol, sheriffs and police departments on joint enforcement efforts.

The Ohio Department of Transportation began keeping records in 1936, when there were 2,389 fatalities and about 1.9 million registered vehicles in the state. That works out to 12.38 deaths per 10,000 vehicles.

Traffic deaths peaked in Ohio at 2,778 in 1969, but by then, more than 6.2 million vehicles were on the road. That made the fatality rate 4.46 per 10,000 vehicles.