Highways empty, number of reckless drivers increase, state troopers say

MONTGOMERY COUNTY — Data from ODOT shows traffic volume is down 40 percent following DeWine's stay-at-home order, making any commute comparable to a drive on a typical Sunday morning.

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New numbers from the state also show more people are getting caught speeding on the open highways.

State Troopers say regardless of the pandemic, they’re still out and looking for reckless drivers.

From March 25 to April 21 of 2019, State Troopers gave out a little under 26,000 speeding tickets statewide. 130 of them were for drivers caught travelling 100 miles per hour or more.

From March 23 to April 19, around 1,200 tickets were given; a 95 percent drop in the number of overall tickets.

154 of these drivers were caught travelling speeds of over 100 miles per hour, however, an 18 percent increase from last year's numbers.

More drivers are taking advantage of the open roads but troopers are still out, and reckless drivers are easier to spot with less cars on the road.

“Obviously our traffic volume has decreased, but our presence on the roadway has not. It is just as prevalent now as it has been before this pandemic started. I think people are more likely to notice our troopers,” Trooper Sgt. Dallas Root told News Center 7′s John Bedell.

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