Road-eo safety event July 14

The Jefferson County Health Department (JCHD) is dedicated to supporting health within our community by promoting positive behaviors and activities. Receiving an injury prevention grant from Montana Department of Health and Human Services provided County Public Health Nurse Erin Ritchie the means to organize an injury prevention activity focused on motor vehicle safety.

The Montana Department of Transportation reported 207 fatalities on Montana highways in 2022, and car accidents are a leading cause of death in the U.S. According to World Population Review, Montana is ranked in the top five states with 19.6 deaths per 100,000. The rate of car accident deaths per 100,000 people ranges from 4.9 to 25.4 in the U.S. Unfortunately, the summer months historically record the most fatalities of the year.

JCHD is hosting a traffic and pedestrian Road-eo to help provide education and awareness related to vehicle safety with a goal of reducing motor vehicle accidents in Jefferson County. This effort is supported by many local and state partners including Montana Highway Patrol, Jefferson County Sheriff’s Department, and local EMS. Our county has lost lives due to motor vehicle crashes. These are losses we would like to prevent.