This month marks the 74th anniversary of the Ohio State Highway Patrol. And over the nearly three-quarters of a century of service to the citizens of Ohio, and those who use our state’s roads every day, our goal has not changed.
From those first patrolmen who rolled out of Camp Perry on their motorcycles on November 15, 1933, to today’s trooper, the main goal of every Ohio State Highway Patrol officer has been, and continues to be, to reduce deaths and injuries on our roadways through professional traffic enforcement and education.
A fact unknown to the vast majority of the motoring public is that a traffic crash is the most likely reason a person could die. This should not be the case, considering we know the cause for these deaths - poor decision making and poor driving behaviors, such as getting behind the wheel impaired.
State troopers and law enforcement officers across the state are committed to making Ohio’s roadways as safe as possible this holiday season. One important way we aim to achieve that objective is by aggressively searching for, and removing, impaired drivers from the roadways before they can cause a tragedy to someone in your family, or someone you know.
Last year troopers arrested 477 impaired drivers over the Thanksgiving holiday weekend.
That meant 477 potential traffic crash tragedies were prevented by the diligence of our officers.
But state troopers do more than enforce Ohio’s traffic laws. They also educate drivers of all ages about the importance of making responsible decisions – including the decision not to drive impaired.
We need the motoring public’s help to make not just the upcoming holidays, but every day, the safest it can be on our roads. Each person can, and must, help by actively influencing friends and family to make the type of safe, responsible decisions that save lives.
Simple things like planning ahead to designate a driver if you choose to consume alcohol, and insisting that everyone in the vehicle is buckled up before you leave, can go a long way toward ensuring tragedies do not occur.
I also want to encourage the public to continue using 1-877-7-PATROL to report dangerous drivers or stranded motorists, or 1-800-GRAB DUI to report impaired drivers.
This year more than 1,000 people have senselessly been killed this year as the result of preventable crashes in Ohio.
It is time that we stand together and assert that we are not going to accept these numbers.
Ohio State Highway Patrol troopers, along with county and local officers across the state, will be as vigilant as ever during the holidays to remove those drivers that threaten your safety and the safety of your loved ones.
Please enjoy the holiday season, and remember to think about your safety as the first step to getting to your destination. Plan ahead, make responsible decisions and help others do the same, and buckle up so we can make this a happy and safe holiday season on Ohio roadways.