Safe driving encouraged during 100 deadliest days of summer
The Wyandot County Safe Communities Coalition has reported one traffic fatality on Wyandot County roadways in the second quarter of 2026, April 1 through June 30. In the same period in 2025 there was one traffic fatality.
The period between Memorial Day and Labor Day is known as the 100 deadliest days of summer because of a known spike in traffic fatalities. In 2026, join the Wyandot County Safe Communities Coalition in making these days the 100 safest days of summer by remembering the following:
1. Slow down. Speeding catches up with you. In 2025, 310 people were killed in speed-related crashes in Ohio, representing about 1 in 4 of Ohio’s traffic fatalities last year. Speed reduces a driver’s ability to steer safely around other vehicles, hazardous objects and unexpected curves. Slow down and make safe driving the priority.
2. Drive sober. During the 100 deadliest days of summer in 2025, impaired driving was involved in more than half of all Ohio traffic fatalities. Remember that alcohol, marijuana, and other drugs including prescribed medications, can impair a driver’s ability to make safe driving choices. Designate a sober driver before using impairing substances or call a friend or family member to get home safely. Never let a loved one get behind the wheel impaired.
3. Watch out for motorcycles. Always look twice for motorcycles before passing, turning or merging. Give motorcycles plenty of room on the roadway. Stay alert and put distractions down. Motorcyclists, be sure to follow traffic laws and speed limits, wear a DOT-compliant helmet with other protective gear and never ride while impaired or distracted.
4. Wear a seat belt. It's a simple habit already practiced by 99% of Wyandot County residents. Using a seat belt is one of the safest choices drivers and passengers alike can make. During the summer of 2025, 43% of traffic fatalities on Ohio roadways involved at least one person who didn’t make the lifesaving choice to buckle up.
Remember to be safe, smart and alert as you travel the roadways this summer. For more information on traffic safety, follow @WyandotHealth on social media.
