LIMA, Ohio (WLIO) — The Ohio Department of Transportation is launching a new statewide campaign aimed at improving safety for pedestrians, bicyclists and other vulnerable road users after hundreds of serious crashes were reported across Ohio last year.
According to ODOT, there were around 900 fatal or serious injury crashes involving a pedestrian or bicyclist in Ohio in 2025.
The new "Read the Road" campaign encourages motorists to watch for walkers, runners, bicyclists and motorcyclists while traveling on Ohio roadways. The initiative also reminds drivers to yield to pedestrians, obey posted speed limits and use extra caution in areas with heavy pedestrian and bicycle traffic.
ODOT officials say the campaign is designed to promote responsible road sharing and reduce the number of serious and fatal crashes involving vulnerable road users.
"Unfortunately, we've had an uptick in in pedestrian and bicycle crashes. So for this initiative, we're just trying to highlight those other users on the roads and then just ask people to use caution and be on the lookout for the other folks out there and we just don't want to see those crashes," says Chris Hughes, Deputy Director, ODOT District 1.
ODOT says the campaign is part of the state's broader effort to create a more walkable and bikeable Ohio.
