Among the many things you can rely on seeing during the first few months of a new year are numerous reports from governmental agencies and other organizations.

They all offer a great deal of statistical information that can make you stop and think about the things that are going on around you.

An example came last week when the Ohio State Highway Patrol released its annual report on fatal crashes.

The good news, according to the report, is that last year, the state only saw 1,076 fatal crashes and 1,156 fatalities. While those numbers might seem to be high, they are still lower than the number of fatal accidents — by 6.4 percent — and fatalities — by 6.9 percent — recorded in 2023.

“It’s certainly encouraging to know that traffic fatalities dropped again last year –marking the third consecutive year of declining traffic deaths — but the number of people killed on Ohio’s roads is still far too high,” Gov. Mike DeWine said in a press release issued by the highway patrol. “For the safety of all travelers, I continue to urge drivers to eliminate distractions and keep their attention on the road ahead.”

Our part of the state is not immune from accidents or fatalities. According to the patrol’s statistics, there were seven fatal crashes in Jefferson County in 2024. That was much higher than the one fatal crash reported in 2023.

In Harrison County, meanwhile, the patrol reported there were two fatal crashes in 2024, down from the five recorded in 2023. Carroll County had three fatal crashes in 2024 after having recorded none in 2023, while Belmont County saw four fatal crashes in 2024, up from three in 2023.

There were nine fatal crashes in Columbiana County in 2024, down from the 11 recorded in 2023.

For the five-year period that began in 2020, Ohio saw 5,804 fatal crashes that resulted in 6.259 fatalities.

In our area, Jefferson County had the lowest total, with 19 fatal crashes. Harrison County saw 21 fatal crashes, while Belmont and Carroll counties each had 23 fatal crashes and Columbiana County saw 52 fatal crashes.

It should come as no surprise that the counties with the largest populations in the state had the greatest number of fatal crashes.

Franklin County had the biggest number — 555 — followed by Cuyahoga County with 519 fatal crashes, Hamilton County with 334 fatal crashes, Montgomery County with 304 fatal crashes and Lucas County with 220 fatal crashes.

Those counties, the highway patrol’s report showed, saw 33 percent of the state’s fatal crashes between 2020 and 2024. Interstates 75 and 71 were the sites of the most fatal crashes, with 118 and 117, respectively.

Patrol numbers also show that the largest number of fatal crashes happened on Fridays and Saturdays (a combined 34 percent), and that the most dangerous hours were between 5 p.m. and 10 p.m., when 35 percent of fatal crashes occurred.

Figures show that26 percent of the fatal crashes between 2020 and 2024 were the result of vehicles being driven off the road, while 16 percent were caused by unsafe speed, 13 percent by driving left of center, 11 percent were caused by a driver failing to yield the right of way, 8 percent were caused by following too closely and 4 percent were caused by running a stop sign.

As a sobering reminder, the patrol added that 56 percent of the state’s fatal crashes between 2020 and 2023 involved alcohol or drugs.

“Every life lost on Ohio’s roadways is a tragedy,” said Col. Charles A. Jones, the patrol’s superintendent in the release. “Drivers can help prevent crashes by watching your speed, following at a safe distance and obeying traffic laws. Safe driving is a responsibility we all share — every trip, every trip.”

That’s something to think about every time you get behind the wheel.

(Gallabrese, a resident of Steubenville, is executive editor of the Herald-Star and The Weirton Daily Times.)