As Ohioans ring in the new year, troopers with the Ohio State Highway Patrol want to keep the roads safe.
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March 25, 2025, Press Release from the Ohio Division of Wildlife:
The Ohio State Highway Patrol will continue being highly visible on roadways across the state in an effort to reduce the number of fatal crashes.
October 11, 2024, Press Release from the Ohio State Highway Patrol: COLUMBUS – Last week, the Ohio State Highway Patrol joined forces with members of the 6-State Trooper Project to reduce unsafe driving behaviors along the Interstate 70 corridor. The high-visibility campaign ran from Friday, October 4, through Sunday, October 6, and included the Indiana State Police, Pennsylvania State Police and the Ohio State Highway Patrol. During the initiative, Ohio troopers issued citations for 325 speeding violations, 22 safety belt violations and made four OVI arrests. In total, among the three states participating in the initiative, 682 citations were issued for speeding, 47 citations for safety belt violations and 19 OVI arrests were made.
As Americans take to the roadways this holiday season, thousands of traffic injuries and fatalities are predicted. Over the long Thanksgiving weekend, law enforcement will be out in full force all over the state to enforce Ohio’s impaired driving laws, as well as to make sure everyone drives safe and buckles up.
This month is Seatbelt Safety and Enforcement Month and multiple organizations in Allen County, such as the Regional Planning Commission, will be working together to ensure drivers stay safe as the holiday season inches closer and closer. Statistics from the national highway traffic safety administration show that the seatbelt usage rate in 2021 was at 90.4%, a number that many want to see improve and not decrease.
The Ohio State Highway Patrol is stepping up enforcement efforts this week by following school buses and sending additional units to patrol school zones. Drivers are required by law to keep at least 10 feet from a bus that is either picking up or dropping off students. Troopers say they are seeing a rise in distracted drivers violating the rules.
Last year, Shawnee Township had a high enough number of deaths in traffic incidents to qualify for these programs this year. The selective traffic enforcement grant will be used to send officers on patrol to monitor traffic violations such as speeding and distracted driving. The impaired driving enforcement program grant will fund more police presence during evenings and peak times of the year for impaired driving.