December 2, 2024, Press Release from the Ohio Department of Public Safety: COLUMBUS — As part of Older Driver Safety Awareness Week (December 2-6, 2024) –Governor Mike DeWine, the Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT), the Ohio Traffic Safety Office (OTSO), and the Ohio Department of Aging (ODA) are reminding Ohioans about programs available to prevent serious injuries and fatalities among Ohio’s older drivers. People aged 65 and older make up the fastest-growing segment of drivers nationally and in Ohio. According to crash data from ODOT, older road users make up 23% of all traffic fatalities in the last three years and by 2030, the state will have more than 4.8 million residents who are 65 and older. “Safety is our number one priority for anyone who travels on Ohio’s roads,” said Governor DeWine. “Driving is a great way to maintain independence, and we hope older Ohioans and their loved ones reacquaint themselves with safe driving tips, especially during Older Driver Safety Awareness Week.” This year’s theme for Older Driver Safety Awareness Week (ODSAW) is “Understand, Be Proactive, Plan”, stressing the importance of everyone working together to support older Ohioans driving as long as possible, and as safe as possible.

It is going to be a busy weekend on the roads, as people are trying to squeeze one more vacation in over the Labor Day weekend. AAA is predicting a nine percent increase in people traveling over the long holiday weekend than last year. Around 85 percent of the people traveling will be driving, and the good news for motorists: the average gas prices are expected to be 30 cents cheaper than Labor Day 2023. 

As we approach the Fourth of July holiday, millions of Ohioans are gearing up to hit the road. Pearl Lewandowski gives us a closer look at what you can expect on the highways and how to plan for safe travel. The Fourth of July is one of the busiest travel times of the year, and Ohio's highways are no exception. According to AAA, nearly 71 million travelers are expected to hit the road nationwide, making it one of the busiest holidays we've ever seen.

The survey finds that only 22 percent of people want manufacturers to focus on self-driving vehicles, but that doesn’t mean people aren’t willing to adapt to self-driving technology.

Tuesday was National Plan for Vacation Day, happening right around the time that AAA says many people are planning their vacations for the year. One AAA survey found that 59% of Ohioans are considering taking a trip this year, but only a third of those people have actually booked their vacation. Some of that hesitation could be from the COVID-19 pandemic, which AAA says requires some careful travel planning.

While the "wait-and-see" travel trend continues, AAA says we can expect a decrease in people traveling for thanksgiving this year.

AAA is projecting a 9 percent drop in people traveling, down from the 2.3 million that traveled in 2019. Although a decrease in travel, there still will be many people on the roadway the whole week. A AAA manager says, we can expect a majority to travel by car because it creates a flexible plan and gas prices are lower than they've been in 15 years. The pandemic definitely has a role to play in the travel and we might see even less if more restrictions are in place.

With the daylight saving change, triple A warns drivers to stay focused on the road as it’s going to start getting dark earlier.

AAA is anticipating more breakdowns as the cooler weather sets in, especially from cars that may have been sitting for long periods of time because of the pandemic.

AAA reminds drivers to give themselves a little extra time when leaving in the morning in case they do find themselves behind a school bus. Drivers also are required to stop when bus lights are flashing and the stop arm is out. AAA says that recently, they've seen more speeding incidents on the road, and that could be a problem with the school year just starting.

The AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety’s latest research shows that even car crashes and legal consequences aren’t deterring drivers from engaging in dangerous or risky behavior behind the wheel. 

The data shows a gap between drivers' attitudes about risky driving behaviors and what they practice themselves behind the wheel. While drivers acknowledge that distracted, aggressive, or impaired driving is dangerous, many of them admit to engaging in this behavior on the road.