Failure to yield a top cause of 2012 crashes

COLUMBUS — Motorists running red lights or stop signs and failing to yield to traffic was the second-highest cause of fatal crashes in 2012, according to a press release from the Ohio State Highway Patrol.
The OSHP is urging all motorists to take their time, ensure that cross traffic is stopped or clear and obey all traffic signs and signals.
Failure to yield violations can be deadly, the release said. In 2012, 37,475 crashes in Ohio were caused by a driver failing to yield, killing 187 people and injuring 23,353. Young drivers, ages 16 to 25, were at-fault in 30 percent of these crashes, which is nearly twice as high as those ages 26 to 35 with 16 percent, the OSHP said.
“Drivers are urged to pay close attention to stop signs and signals when traversing Ohio’s roadways,” said Col. John Born, patrol superintendent. “They need to ensure the intersection is clear before entering it.”
Drivers can avoid failure to yield crashes by slowing down and taking their time; looking both ways before entering an intersection; signaling every turn and lane change; making a complete stop at stop lights and stop signs; and yielding to other drivers and being courteous.

Posted by Daily Chief on February 23, 2013. Filed under State News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry