DAYTON — The Ohio State Highway Patrol (OSHP) saw a dramatic decrease in fatal crashes over the Christmas holiday.
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Last year there were 12 fatal crashes over the holiday across the state. This year, the number dropped to two. State troopers also saw a 66 percent decrease in all crashes across the state.
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“The Division of the State Highway Patrol always is encouraging that you are responsibly driving,” OSHP Sergeant Bradley Hess said.
Hess said OSHP increases patrols over major holidays and encourages troopers to be visible on the road.
“We have increased federal funding for enforcement programs like OVI and seatbelt enforcement programs,” he said.
Both fatal crashes were a result of not wearing a seatbelt. Hess told News Center that neither had anything to do with OVI.
“You are using these programs provided by the counties to get home safely,” Hess said.
In Montgomery County, that program is ArriveSafe. Since it began in 2007, the program has provided more than 18,000 rides and, as reported on News Center 7 at 5:00, it saw a big jump this Christmas.
“This year we provided 984 rides, so that’s about a 26 percent increase in the number from last year,” Montgomery County Prosecutor Mat Heck, Jr. said.
Heck said he thinks his program, which provides a $20 Uber voucher to Montgomery County residents, is helping with the decrease in OVI crashes.
“I’m hoping if we keep driving it home that people will get the message,” Heck said. “Don’t drink and drive. We’re not saying no alcohol. We’re just saying don’t mix the two.”
The program runs again from 6 p.m. on New Year’s Eve through 6 a.m. on Jan. 2, 2025. The QR code for the voucher can be found in this social media post.
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