July 2024 Press Release

Safe Communities announced that there have been 9 fatalities this year to date, compared to 6 fatalities last year at this time.
 
We see it every day – persons going too fast to get where they want to go as quick as possible!  From January 2023 to date there have been 594 speed involved crashes in Wood County.  4 of these crashes involved a fatality!  That is 4 too many!  Most of the crashes happen on Friday, with Saturday and Sunday following close behind. 
 
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, or NHTSA, offers these points when it comes to speeding:

Speeding is illegal, and it endangers you, your loved ones, and everyone else on the road.

• While speeding may seem like the quicker option, Speeding Catches Up With You.
• Speeding accounts for more than one-quarter of all traffic-related fatalities nationally.
• Did you know? Speeding is a type of aggressive driving behavior.
• There are many reasons drivers choose to speed, but lateness, traffic, and a general disregard for others are the main culprits behind this risky behavior.
• Speed limits are put in place to protect everyone who uses our roads.
• When you speed, your ability to steer safely around another vehicle, a hazardous object, or an unexpected curve is reduced.
• Speed also affects your safety even when you are driving at the speed limit but too fast for road conditions, such as during bad weather, when a road is under repair, or in an area at night that isn’t well lit.
• A common misconception is that speeding is an interstate-related issue. Speeding happens — and is dangerous — on all roads.
• Even advancements in vehicle safety and passenger protection cannot keep people safe from the dangers of speeding.