Patrol cracking down on impaired drivers

OSHP information

In response to the rising traffic crash fatalities in Ohio and the Patrol’s ongoing effort to contribute to a safer Ohio, troopers are focused on removing impaired drivers more than ever before. The Patrol is warning drivers: If you choose to drive impaired, you will be arrested.

Through March of this year, troopers have arrested 503 more drivers for OVI than during the same period in 2011.

Even though OVI-related fatal crashes are down 28 percent through March of this year, impaired drivers continually kill far too many people on Ohio’s roadways each year. Impaired drivers were responsible for 40 percent of the fatal crashes in 2011.

“We can’t fight the battle against impaired driving on our own; we need your commitment to make our roads safer,” said Lt. Ray Haas, Van Wert Post commander. “You can contribute to a safer Ohio by actively influencing friends and family to make safe, responsible decisions — like planning ahead to designate a driver and insisting that everyone in the vehicle is buckled up.”

The public is encouraged to call #677 to report impaired drivers or drug activity.