Holiday Traffic Enforcement Grants Aimed at Reducing Impaired Driving Crashes

Article Presented By Hometown-Motors, Inc.

(Chillicothe) – Area law enforcement will be out in force for the holidays in an effort to reduce impaired driver crashes and incidents.

Ross County Sheriff George W. Lavender, Jr. has announced the Ohio Department of Public Safety’s (ODPS) Ohio Traffic Safety Office (OTSO) awarded $25,772.84 in federal traffic safety funding to the Ross County Sheriff’s Office for federal fiscal year 2025.

Crash data shows that 328 crashes related to impaired driving caused 123 injuries and 14 fatalities in Ross County, over a three-year period. To reduce these numbers, the Ross County Sheriff’s Office will be conducting high-visibility enforcement, working overtime hours, with the grant funds. Extra deputies will be on patrol for the Thanksgiving holiday weekend looking for impaired drivers, distracted drivers and those traveling at a high rate of speed.

The funds are passed through OTSO from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to support the efforts of safety partners statewide and focus on traffic safety priority areas such as restraint use, impaired driving, motorcycle safety and youthful drivers.

Competitive grant proposals are accepted and reviewed by OTSO, with funds awarded to projects that will have the greatest impact on reducing fatal crashes or significantly improving traffic safety systems.

Also, Ohio State Highway Patrol Troopers will be highly visible and cracking down on impaired drivers and those failing to wear a safety belt from Wednesday, November 27 at midnight through 11:59pm on Sunday, December 1.

Many Thanksgiving celebrations involve alcohol, which increases the possibility of impaired driving. During last year’s Thanksgiving reporting period, which ran from November 22 through 26, there were 12 fatal crashes in which 13 people were killed. Within the same reporting period, five crashes and six fatalities involved alcohol and/or drugs. Of the nine fatalities in which safety belts were available, two were unbelted. Two pedestrians and two motorcyclists were killed during this time frame.

“As we gather this Thanksgiving, we want everyone to enjoy a safe holiday,” said Colonel Charles A. Jones, Patrol superintendent. “By designating a sober driver, staying focused on the road and ensuring everyone is properly wearing a safety belt, you’re not just protecting yourself – you’re helping to save lives.”

The Patrol also made 326 arrests for impaired driving.

Motorists are encouraged to safely call #677 to report impaired drivers, drug activity or stranded motorists on Ohio roadways.