Ohio’s highways were still deadly over Memorial Day weekend, but less so than they have been in a long time. The Ohio State Highway Patrol says six people died in crashes between May 22 and May 25, the fewest Memorial Day fatalities the state has seen in 18 years. Troopers carried out thousands of traffic stops and safety contacts over the four day stretch, and officials pointed to a recent high visibility enforcement campaign, local sobriety checkpoints and a new rideshare incentive as key reasons the toll did not climb higher.
Statewide figures from the Patrol show troopers made 16,490 traffic enforcement contacts during the period, including 355 impaired driving arrests, 66 drug arrests and 2,090 safety belt citations, according to WLWT. The agency also logged 9,179 non enforcement contacts and 1,647 motorist assists. Officials said the numbers follow the department’s first ever statewide enforcement initiative, which they say produced more than 18,500 vehicle checks, 158 impaired driving arrests and four felony arrests.
Local checkpoint in Mariemont
In Hamilton County, the crackdown was visible on Wooster Pike in Mariemont, where the Hamilton County OVI Task Force teamed up with several departments for a sobriety checkpoint on a stretch officers say has a history of impaired driving crashes. "There’s really no reason to be out drinking and driving," Lt. Dane Baumgartner told WLWT. He said the site was picked after a three year statistical review that found dozens of OVI related crashes within a few miles of the checkpoint.
Statewide enforcement and a rideshare push
The Patrol said its Memorial Day numbers came on the heels of a coordinated OVI operation statewide. To back up that enforcement with an easier choice for drivers, the Ohio Traffic Safety Office rolled out "Project Plan Ahead," a rideshare credit program aimed at cutting down on impaired driving during high risk holidays, according to the Ohio Traffic Safety Office. Under the program, riders whose trips started or ended in seven participating counties, including Hamilton, Franklin and Cuyahoga, could get up to $15 off an Uber or Lyft ride during specified overnight hours over the holiday.
Troopers urged drivers to keep doing the basics that save lives: buckle up, slow down when the weather turns and stay alert for erratic behavior on the road. The Patrol also reminded the public that anyone can call #677 to report suspected drug activity or dangerous driving. Officials cautioned that even with this year’s lower Memorial Day count, the start of summer marks the beginning of the so called "100 deadliest days" for roadway fatalities, and they pressed motorists to plan ahead and arrange sober rides.
Local leaders say the combination of targeted checkpoints, a broad enforcement push and ride home credits is meant to blunt the seasonal spike in deadly crashes. Still, they noted, all that strategy only works if drivers make safe choices before they ever turn the key.
