First, about one-quarter of the fatal crashes in Ohio involves alcohol. Second, over half the people killed in motor vehicle crashes in Ohio are not wearing the safety belt available to them at the time of the crash. Third, excessive speed is the leading causative factor for fatal crashes in Ohio. Whether a driver or passenger, staying safe while in a motor vehicle is simple if you just participate in the safety process. Participation starts with wearing your safety belt, slowing down, and designating a driver if you are going to be drinking.
Participation also means taking the extra step to help others stay safe.
As we enter a new year, I also want to remind everyone of ways you can directly contact the Patrol and help a trooper render assistance. These toll-free telephone numbers are useful tools that allow motorists to help us get these dangerous drivers off the road. Motorists are calling the numbers, and impaired drivers are being apprehended. In 1999, motorists placed 4,350 GRAB-DUI calls to Patrol posts around the state. Those calls contributed to the arrest total of 24,894 impaired drivers in 1999, of which 508 were convicted with their fifth or higher drunk driving violation.