Extra Enforcement Planned During Holidays

The Ohio State Highway Patrol will be out in full force this holiday season removing dangerous and impaired drivers in an effort to reach historic lows in the number of people killed on Ohio’s roadways in 2011. Last year fatalities increased to 1,080 over a record low of 1,022 in 2009.

The Marion County Sheriff's Office has also announced increased enforcement for the holidays.

With the upcoming holidays, the Patrol is asking motorists to help Ohio achieve a record year by not driving impaired, buckling-up and keeping their focus on the road. During last year’s holiday reporting period of Midnight on Thursday, Dec. 23 through 11:59 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 26 – 14 people lost their lives on Ohio’s roadways, with four deaths alcohol-related.

“The holidays can be one of the most dangerous times of the year due to an increase in impaired driving,” said Colonel John Born, Patrol superintendent. “Last year during the holiday weekend, troopers arrested 226 drivers for impaired driving.”

As part of national holiday enforcement efforts, the Department of Public Safety’s Office of Criminal Justice Services is assisting law enforcement around the state, including OVI task forces, in coordinating efforts to step-up enforcement of traffic and impaired driving laws. Last year in Ohio, 39 people died in alcohol-related crashes between Thanksgiving and New Year’s.

The public is encouraged to continue using 1-877-7-PATROL to report dangerous or impaired drivers, as well as stranded motorists.