6-08-2024 11:20pm

100 Deadliest Days of Summer

Beth Callahan Editor

COLUMBUS, OH -- The time period from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day weekend is referred to as the 100 Deadliest Days of Summer. The Ohio State Highway Patrol is reminding motorists to buckle up, drive focused and sober.

During this period last year, 67,305 crashes occurred on Ohio’s roadways, a 3% drop from 2022. Of those, 371 were fatal crashes that killed 397 people which was five less than the year prior. Even though the 100 deadliest days only represent 27 percent of the calendar year, in the last five years, they account for more than one-third of all fatal traffic crashes.

Warren County, which is in District 8, had the second highest number of crashes in the state reporting 12,832 crashes during this time.

District 8 includes...

Adams County — 125 crashes reported during this time period.
Brown County — 160 crashes reported during this time period.
Butler County — 2,076 crashes reported during this time period.
Clermont County — 1,186 crashes reported during this time period.
Clinton County — 272 crashes reported during this time period.
Fayette County — 184 crashes reported during this time period.
Hamilton County — 7,337 crashes reported during this time period.
Highland County — 220 crashes reported during this time period.
Warren County — 1,272 crashes reported during this time period.

District 3, which includes the Cleveland area, was number one in crashes during this time period last yeas with a total of 16,632 crashes, while the Columbus area, District 6, came in with 9,955, the third highest number of crashes for these 100 days in 2023.

“As we enjoy the summer months, it’s important to prioritize safety on our roads," said Governor Mike DeWine. “By committing to wearing a seatbelt, avoiding distractions, and driving sober, drivers can help prevent unnecessary tragedies.”

The 100 deadliest days also encompass the primary motorcycle riding months. Last year, more than half of all motorcycle-involved crashes occurred during this time period. Motorcycle-involved crashes made up about 3% of all crashes during these 100 days. However, in 2023, they comprised almost one-in-three fatal crashes.

“While we are encouraged by the decrease in fatalities, there is still much work to be done," said Colonel Charles A. Jones, Patrol superintendent. "We need everyone to drive sober, obey the speed limit, avoid distractions, and buckle up every trip. If you're on a motorcycle, ride defensively and wear proper gear. Your safety, and the safety of others on our roadways, remains our top priority."

Last year during this time frame, speeding citations of 20 mph or more over the speed limit accounted for nearly 29,000 citations. More than 1,200 of those citations involved speeds of at least 100 mph. Also, during this time period, troopers made more 4,490 impaired driving arrests and issued 19,143 safety belt citations.

You can help contribute to roadway safety by calling #677 to report drug activity and dangerous or impaired driving.

A statistical map detailing citations and other 100 Deadliest Days of Summer-related information can be found here.