Law enforcement and Safe Communities representatives had a game day message for fans: Violating traffic laws can be deadly.
Kylee Palicki, a trauma RN at University of Toledo Medical Center, said “what we see in the trauma bays is not only devastating, but the biggest part of that is also having to tell your family that their loved one is not coming home. It’s even more so when it’s something that could be avoided. “
The gathering was held outside Doyt Perry Stadium on the BGSU campus, where law enforcement officers from both counties was setting out to deliver the game ball to the Glass Bowl where the BGSU Falcons will be playing rivals the University of Toledo Rockets tonight.
Sandy Wiechman of Safe Communities Wood County said that while the two teams are rivals, all those gathered, whether rooting for the Falcons or Rockets, were together in their advocacy for safe driving.
“We have a unified message when it comes to buckling your seat belt, not driving impaired, not driving distracted, watching out for pedestrians or moving over or slowing down for emergency vehicles and first responders on the roadway.”
Natalie Zerucha, Lucas County Safe Communities coordinator said that while the legal limit for being considered impaired in a blood alcohol concentration is.08, more than 2000 crashes occurred last year in the state where a driver had a BAC of .01 to .07.
“Get a sober driver,” she said. “It’s not worth risking your life for a night of fun.”
To drive their point home, they reported the following statistics from last year.
Traffic fatalities: Wood County, 34; Lucas County, 128.
Serious injury crashes: Wood County, 217; Lucas County, 656.
Injury crashes: Wood County, 1484; Lucas County, 8283.
(The 2021 population of Wood County was 132,472. Lucas County’s was 429,191.)
The also noted:
Percentage of teen related crashes: Wood County, 16%; Lucas County, 12%.
Percentage of mature driver related crashes: Wood County, 33%; Lucas County, 32%.
Percentage of crashes involving no seatbelt: Wood County, 16%; Lucas County, 32%.
Percentage of crashes involving speed: Wood County, 12%; Lucas County, 7%.
