By the numbers:
13 — Fatal crashes in Clark County in 2014
23 — Fatal crashes in Clark County in 2015
9 — Fatal crashes involving drugs or alcohol in Clark County in 2015
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The Springfield News-Sun reports on important public safety issues in Clark County, including a recent look at increases in violent crime in Springfield and the fight against the heroin epidemic.
Clark County leaders hope to save lives with a new program targeted at teens after a big spike in fatal crashes last year.
The number of fatal crashes in Clark County nearly doubled from 2014 to 2015, according to data from the Ohio State Highway Patrol. About 40 percent involved drugs or alcohol.
“Our overall goal is zero,” said Anita Biles, safe communities coordinator for the Clark County Combined Health District. “Regardless of age we want zero fatalities in Clark County.”
The Clark County Safe Communities Coalition brought a program called Mobile Cinema Park to Springfield High School on Friday. About 700 students participated in the program.
Springfield is just the second school district in Ohio to use this program, Biles said.
“The reason we liked the program is … it involves students actively participating,” she said.
The mobile cinema park is an interactive look at the consequences of drinking and driving, texting and driving and not wearing a seat belt, Biles said.
Students are surveyed on their opinions on distracted driving and other topics and then shown a 3D video that outlines the negative consequences. They’re surveyed again after the video to see if their opinions have changed.
“With prom season coming up … it would be a benefit for people to realize that after parties, you shouldn’t go out and get drunk,” Springfield High School student Kirsten McCleary said.
McCleary is a member of Students Against Destructive Decisions. The group had a role in bringing the mobile cinema park program to the school.
“It’s critical to have kids listen to their peers,” Biles said. “I can talk all day, a police officer can talk all day. But to actually hear that peer to peer is vital to getting the message out.”
SADD members want students to have fun but, “You don’t have to get drunk to do that,” student Ryan Ramirez said.
Biles wants to get to students early to prevent crashes in the future.
In 2014, 13 fatal crashes occured in Clark County, state patrol data shows. In 2015, that climbed to 23 fatal crashes. Nine of those involved drugs or alcohol.
So far this year, Clark County has seen four fatal crashes.
The city of Springfield saw a jump in fatal car accidents from four in 2014 to 10 in 2015, said Sgt. Brett Bauer from the Springfield Police Division.
There’s no explanation for the spike, Bauer said, but most involved poor judgment and reckless driving.
No fatal crashes have occurred in the city so far this year, he said, but that doesn’t mean the numbers will be lower. The first deadly accident in 2015 was in May and the last was in October.
Warm weather can be a factor in fatal crashes, he said.
“I do feel like I’ve responded to more fatal crashes that time of year,” Bauer said, but “we get them at all times of year.”
Inclement weather can also be a factor, he said.
Biles wants students to take the lessons learned from the program and use them year-round.
“We want them to buckle up,” she said. “We want them to put the phone down.”
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