Troopers targeting impaired drivers as new year approaches
NEW PHILADELPHIA (WJER) (Dec. 31, 2024) – The Ohio State Highway Patrol is again urging everyone to celebrate the new year responsibly.
New Philadelphia Post Commander Lt. Johnnie Maier says getting behind the wheel while impaired puts everyone on the roads at risk.
“We encourage you to enjoy the holiday with each other but to do it in a way that’s safe for you and other motorists, and we’re not going to tolerate impaired driving and we will be out there on those holiday’s and we will take the necessary action is we are encountered with impaired drivers.”
Impaired driving remains a leading cause of fatal crashes in Ohio and the focus of the patrol’s ongoing Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over campaign.
“Impaired driving accounts for just over 50-percent of the fatal crash over the last several years. Because of that we continue to make this a priority and will continue to make this a priority.”
During the last two-day New year’s reporting period in 2023, there were six fatal crashes statewide resulting in seven deaths, and troopers made 272 impaired driving arrests.