Crashes involving students rise with summer temps | Toledo, Ohio car accident lawyer

As summer temperatures rise, so do crashes involving school-age children -- especially those who walk and ride bikes.
A recent five-year study by The Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) reveals crashes involving school-age children (ages 5 to 18) make up nearly 40 percent of all pedestrian and bicyclist crashes -- with June through August combining for more than 3,500 crashes, the largest three-month total.
To help reverse this trend and improve roadway safety for all travelers, ODOT is launching its new "Share the Road Ohio" safety campaign -- with the goal of reducing roadway fatalities by 5 percent by 2015.
ODOT safety experts say the increase in crashes during the summer months is due to a combination of factors. The first is the beginning of summer vacation for students, which means there is an influx of youngsters who are outside playing and engaging in recreational activities.
The second factor is that many school-age children get around by either walking or riding a bike and are unfamiliar with biking and pedestrian traffic laws.
This summer, ODOT is mobilizing a grassroots statewide effort to distribute roadway safety information via tip cards, events, public service announcements, Web videos, a safe driving simulator and partnerships with law enforcement agencies. Bicycle, pedestrian, motorcycle and motorist advocacy groups and clubs will also play a pivotal role in communicating the safety message.
In 2010, there were nearly 299,767 crashes across Ohio with 1,081 deaths and 10,175 serious injuries. Between 2006 and 2010, more than 23,297 crashes were pedestrian and bicycle-related, resulting in 552 fatalities and 20,478 injuries (3,699 serious injuries).
If you or someone you know has been involved in a car accident, call our Toledo, Ohio car accident attorneys at 800.637.8170 for a free case evaluation or to request your free copy of The Ohio Accident Book.