Fatal automobile crashes in Ohio are up significantly in the first four months of 2012 after a record low number of traffic deaths in 2011.

The 16.4 percent rise in statewide traffic fatalities in the first third of the year comes despite the Ohio State Highway Patrol cracking down on drunk driving, seat belt enforcement and felony drug violations. Plus, the six-county area of Butler, Warren, Preble, Montgomery, Darke and Miami has had 24 more traffic fatalities — many who weren’t wearing seat belts — than during the same period in 2011.

Those numbers don’t yet include the May 3 Butler County deaths of Miranda Lane, 17, of Colerain Twp. and Mathilde Jessen, 16, of Green Twp.

The teens died when their vehicle collided with a semi-truck at Ohio 73 and U.S. 127 in Milford Twp. Investigations indicated Lane had failed to yield to the truck.

“Fatals are a difficult thing for us to curb,” said OSHP Lt. Matt Hamilton. “We’re aggressive in OVI (Operating a Vehicle while under the Influence of drugs or alcohol) and seat belt enforcement so if that crash does happen, they have the best chance that they have to survive.”

Statewide, provisional OSHP statistics show there have been 312 fatalities (from 275 fatal crashes) through four months in 2012. That number was 268 in 2011, which became the lowest auto-related fatality year (1,020 deaths from 947 accidents) in Ohio history and also the lowest nationally.

A national highway safety advocate said Ohio lacks leadership and commitment to strengthen laws. Jackie Gillan, president of Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety, said Ohio is among the worst eight states in that organization’s annual report.

“Ohio is at the bottom of the barrel because they are lacking so many critical laws like primary enforcement of seat belt, all-rider motorcycle helmet laws, they don’t have major elements of an important teen driving law, they have weak drunk-driving laws,” Gillan said.

Gillan’s organization supports limits for teen drivers such as night-time and cell phone restrictions, 16 as the minimum age for learner’s permits. In Ohio, most drunk-driving crimes are misdemeanors unless drivers have multiple offenses.

Most crash victims weren’t wearing belts

Of the 38 deaths in those six local counties through April that did not involve pedestrians or motorcycles, at least 25 were not wearing seat belts. In four more cases it’s unknown if seat belts were used. The causes of the crashes range from people falling asleep to driving left of center to alcohol-related and excessive speed.

“There’s crashes and its people being ejected out of the vehicle and the crashed car, in the compartment, there isn’t any real intrusion or trees or poles or anything, it’s just a damaged car,” said Sgt. Jeff Kramer. “But not having their safety belt on they get ejected out of the windshield or something like that and then the car rolls over on them.

“I don’t know for sure that they’d be alive had they worn their seat belt, (but) probably there’s a good chance the injuries would be minimal and not fatal. We see this time and time and time again. It’s just a simple thing of clicking your seat belt.”

Despite seat belt infractions being a secondary offense, enforcement also is up 16.4 percent in Ohio overall and much higher in some counties.

Gillan said that nationally, about half of the 32,000 killed in 2011 weren’t wearing seat belts. She said an unbuckled seat belt should be a primary reason to pull someone over.

“We know that wearing a seat belt is one of the most important things you can do to protect you and your family,” Gillan said. “So why are we tying the hands of law enforcement so that they can only enforce the law if they see someone doing something else that’s equally or more dangerous?”

All enforcement is increasing

Statewide, troopers made more than 24,000 additional enforcement stops from January through April compared to this time in 2011 — an increase of 16.3 percent.

Drug violations were up 32.8 percent, felony arrests up 18.1 percent, misdemeanor summons up 36.1 percent and commercial vehicle enforcement up 19.6 percent, among others.

“The new leadership in the Highway Patrol is a big part of this. We’re refocusing our efforts on the things that the public find most important,” Hamilton said of Col. John Born, who took over in 2011 as the OSHP’s Superintendent. “I think we’re doing a better job of holding our people accountable on a daily basis.”

The “Trooper Shield” initiative was introduced in 2011 and continues to pick up steam in 2012. Officials say Born wants criminal patrol to be as important as traffic enforcement.

“If you drink and drive, we’re looking for you. If you’re hauling drugs on our roads, we’re looking for you,” said Sgt. Anthony Lauer. “And bottom line is a seat belt is going to save your life.”

Staff writer Eric Robinette contributed to this story.