Press Release

Greene County Combined Health District

A Safe Communities Grantee of the Ohio Department of Public Safety

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: April 10, 2008

For clarification contact:

LOCAL CONTACT NAME: Beth Player

LOCAL PHONE NUMBER: 374-5664

Greene County Safe Communities Program Releases

Greene County Traffic Fatalities Update

The Greene County Safe Communities program reports that for the first quarter of 2008 there have been two traffic deaths in Greene County. This compares with four traffic deaths for the same period in 2007.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, each fatality has a comprehensive cost of $3,366,388 associated with it. The fatality cost in Greene County for 2008 is now equal to $6,732,776.

The leading causes for crashes during 2007 were following too closely, failure to control, failure to yield, improper lane change, and unsafe speed. These factors, combined with not wearing a seat belt and/or driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, are causing fatalities and injury crashes.

Please remember to buckle up every time you drive and get a designated driver if you are going to drink.

The “Safe Communities” program was developed through the Ohio Department of Public Safety to establish and/or expand community partnerships to create safer, healthier communities throughout Ohio.