COLUMBUS – A daily tally of impaired driver arrests, as well as alcohol-involved crashes will be made available to the public at www.statepatrol.ohio.gov this Labor Day weekend as Ohio State Highway Patrol troopers work toward a weekend free of impaired-fatal crashes.

The Patrol’s efforts are being conducted in conjunction with a national effort to reduce impaired driving incidents and crashes. Increased and specialized enforcement is made possible through federal overtime funding and works in conjunction with Operation C.A.R.E. (Combined Accident Reduction Effort).

“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 Paul D. McClellan, 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.”

Labor Day is traditionally a dangerous holiday period on Ohio roads, particularly for impaired driving crashes. Last Labor Day holiday in Ohio, nine of the 21 people killed were involved in alcohol-related crashes.

Each year, 50,000 Ohioans are convicted of operating a motor vehicle under the influence of drugs and alcohol (OVI). The most dangerous drivers are considered “habitual” offenders, who have received five or more OVI convictions in their lifetime. Currently, there are 33,000 habitual offenders in Ohio.

Earlier this week, the Patrol released a report supporting national studies estimating as many as one in four drivers during certain times of the night have been drinking. Alcohol-related traffic fatalities in Ohio have increased 26 percent over the last five years. The report showed:

Troopers 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.

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Note to editors: The Patrol’s Web site Labor Day tally will be updated at least once daily beginning Friday afternoon and ending Monday at www.statepatrol.ohio.gov. Media ride-alongs with troopers can be scheduled in advance by contacting the Public Affairs Unit at 614-752-2792 or after hours at 614-466-2660.

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