Post Date 6/24/2013 – Ohio car insurance rates may increase for 71 vehicle-train crashes which occurred last year. The data was collected and reported by the Ohio Public Utilities Commission. 10% of these 71 crashes resulted in the death to 9 people, 20% in severe injuries. The report also showed that more than 50% of these crashes occurred at railroad crossings. Even though these railroad crossings had active warning devices, the motorists still drove through the crossings damaging both the vehicles and train. Since these accidents were at-fault, the drivers can expect for their Ohio car insurance rates to increase.

Ohio car insurance rates and at fault accidents go hand and hand

2012 statistics show nearly 30% of these vehicles-train crashes involve cars stopped on crossings while 25% had motorists going through the train crossing without stopping. 20% of those crashes are result of the motorists driving around railroad crossing gates. 28% percent of the crashes are incidents wherein the motorist’s vehicle hit a train. The highest percentage of the driver’s involved in the vehicle-train crashes are men from the ages of 16-19 and 20-29. Each age bracket had 6 male drivers involved in the accident. Many of the collisions transpired during night time when they were under the impression the trains were not running.

Although some drivers may see their ohio car insurance rates go up, drivers in Wood county topped the list recording 5 vehicle-train crashes last year while 20 other counties had only one incident each. Despite the number of crashes, the Ohio PUC statistics show vehicle crashes on Ohio’s highway-rail grade crossings had declined since the 1980s. Ohio has 5,300 miles of rail tracks and 5,800 of public railroad crossings. The Ohio PUC is the state agency tasked in ensuring the safety of the state’s railroad tracks through railroad inspections and safety upgrades. In 2012, a total of 543 safety upgrades were ordered in the entire state which includes the installation of gates and lights, upgrades on circuits and closings, and supplemental assistance upgrades.