Almost four people die every day from traffic accidents on Ohio’s roadways, according to Robert Wakefield, the administrative assistant for the governor’s highway safety office.

If the Bowling Green Police Department has its say, this Sunday will be different.

City police, along with more than 40 other organizations around the state, are working together to support “Partners to Reduce Ohio Traffic Deaths.” The event’s goal is to achieve one full day of zero traffic fatalities.

“We want to offer our support to encourage folks to drive safely,” said BGPD’s Lt. Brad Biller. Other partners include the Perry Township Police Department, the state chapter of Mothers Against Drunk Driving and United States Sen. Mike DeWine from Ohio.

Although the campaign’s purpose is to wipe out fatalities on Oct. 10, the real intention is to eliminate traffic deaths by educating drivers, pedestrians and bicyclists on the importance of safety.

“We have the same goal every day,” Biller explained.

The event is being spearheaded by the Ohio Society of Professional Engineers, who will post the success of the day on Oct. 11 and will follow up in the months after. Already in its fourth year, the event has yet to reach its goal of zero fatalities.

To increase this year’s chances, a media conference was held Wednesday for members of the press and the partners to inform the public about the day.

About 40 people attended the conference, held at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course near Mansfield. They were treated to several activities that focused on driver safety, including an obstacle course for drivers wearing special goggles that simulated being impaired by alcohol.

Visitors also received instructions on driver safety, watched pursuit training drills from state police departments, received “Survival Kits” that contained safety literature and heard from speakers including Wakefield.

The event is held on the same day each year because October has an unusually high number of traffic deaths in the United States. Last year alone, the month had the most in the nation, according to Holly Ross, the public relations representative for OSPE.

The OSPE website address is http://www.ohioengineer.com.