Dayton OSHP: Don’t get behind the wheel impaired this Fourth of July weekend

DAYTON — The Ohio State Highway says troopers are continuing to focus on impaired driving enforcement, a media release said Friday.

>>

“The impact of driving impaired is often life altering,” said Governor Mike DeWine. “Please don’t risk your life and the lives of others by driving impaired.”

Between 2019 to 2021, there were nearly 40,000 OVI-related crashes on Ohio roadways, killing over 2,000 people and injuring over 24,000 others, OSHP said. Troopers also removed over 57,000 impaired drivers from Ohio roadways during that time period.

“We need motorists to commit to keeping our roads safe by planning ahead to designate a sober driver,” said Lieutenant Dallas Root. “Please don’t risk your life or the lives of others by getting behind the wheel impaired this holiday season.”

This year, 125 impaired drivers have been removed the roadways, the Dayton Post of the Ohio State Highway Patrol said.

Montgomery County ranked fourth in the state in OVI-related crashes with 1,898 from 2019-2021. Franklin County was first with over 4,300 while Cuyahoga (3,520) and Hamilton (2,933) Counties were second and third, OSHP said. These four counties for nearly one out of every three OVI-related crashes in Ohio at 32%.

The public is encouraged to call #677 to report impaired drivers, drug activity or stranded motorists, OSP said.

©2022 Cox Media Group