Are high car accident rates in Cleveland and across Ohio the result of poor traffic safety laws in the state? Certainly, negligent drivers are to blame for many car crashes. Yet according to a recent article in Cleveland.com, some of those careless drivers might actually behave better behind the wheel if Ohio enacted better traffic safety laws. That article cites Ohio as being “ranked near the bottom” when it comes to road safety regulations. That data comes from a new report released by Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety, which assesses the ways in which states have 16 particular laws that are known to prevent serious and deadly motor vehicle collisions.
I want to tell you more about the dangers of driving on Ohio’s roads and to underscore how important it is to get in touch with me about filing a claim if you are injured in a crash.
Ohio Only Has About 30% of Traffic Laws Known to Save Lives
Ohio ranks fifth in the country for having the worst traffic safety law record. In this case, it is not good to be near the top of the list. The only states with a worse record of traffic safety laws are South Dakota, Wyoming, Missouri, and Montana. Simply put, Ohio should be able to do better. Yet According to the article, out of a total of 16 types of traffic laws that are known to reduce the rate of motor vehicle crash fatalities, the state of Ohio only has five of those laws in place.
While Ohio takes into account some safety issues pertaining to seatbelts, motorcycle helmets, and texting while driving, for example, the currently existing laws are not doing all that they could be doing to prevent a wreck.
Laws That Could Make Driving in Ohio Safer
According to the article, the following are some of the major issues that Ohio lawmakers need to address if they want to improve traffic safety records in the state:
- Require seat belts in the back seat: Currently Ohio law only requires drivers and front-seat passengers to wear seat belts. In order to improve accident and injury statistics, Ohio needs to make seat belts required in all areas of a motor vehicle—the front seat and the back seat.
- Make failure to wear a seat belt a primary offense: Currently failure to wear a seat belt is only a secondary offense in Ohio, meaning that a driver cannot be stopped solely for a seat belt infraction. Instead, a seat belt citation can only be issued if the driver is stopped for another (primary) offense.
- Require all motorcycle riders to wear helmets: Currently only riders under the age of 18, and those with a motorcycle license for under a year, must wear helmets under Ohio law.
- Only allow learner’s permits at 16: Ohio currently allows 15-year-olds to receive learner’s permits.
- Lower nighttime teen driving restrictions: Currently Ohio teen drivers only have nighttime driving restrictions that begin at midnight, whereas other states have restrictions set at 10 p.m.
Learn More About How I can Help with Your Car Accident Claim
I want to emphasize that inadequate traffic laws are not an excuse for a reckless, aggressive, or otherwise negligent driver’s behavior. If you were involved in a crash caused by another driver’s careless actions, I’ll Make Them Pay!® Contact me at 877.944.4373 to learn more.