COLUMBUS – The Ohio State Highway Patrol is reminding drivers to not get behind the wheel impaired this Memorial Day weekend. Troopers will be working alongside local law enforcement officers in an effort to have a weekend free of impaired-fatal crashes.
Memorial Day weekend is traditionally a dangerous holiday period on Ohio roads, particularly for impaired driving crashes. Last Memorial Day holiday, six of the 11 people killed on Ohio roadways were involved in alcohol-related crashes.
“Each day, over two million miles are driven by impaired motorists and their poor choices severely threaten the well-being of every citizen in the state,” Colonel John Born, superintendent of the Patrol, said. “Fatalities caused by impaired drivers are indeed a national tragedy – and that makes them a potential tragedy for each of us.”
Motorists should also be reminded that wearing a safety belt is the single most effective tool in reducing injuries and deaths in crashes caused by impaired drivers. This message is part of the national Click It or Ticket safety belt mobilization coordinated by the Department of Public Safety’s Ohio Traffic Safety Office.
Troopers encourage the public to continue using 1-877-7-PATROL to report impaired or dangerous drivers, as well as stranded motorists.