ODOT reminds motorists to drive sober

Ohio Dept. of Transportation information

COLUMBUS — The Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) is reminding motorists to “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” this Labor Day weekend.

ODOT, along with the Ohio Department of Public Safety, is participating in the ‘Drive Sober’ campaign to reduce alcohol-related crashes, injuries and deaths.

“Changing dangerous behaviors, like impaired driving, will undoubtedly save lives,” said ODOT Director Jerry Wray.

During the 2014 Labor Day weekend, there were 12 fatalities on Ohio’s highways, including seven that were alcohol-related. There were 176 alcohol-related crashes resulting in 107 injuries.

Alcohol-impaired fatalities accounted for 31 percent of all motor vehicle traffic fatalities in the United States in 2013. Of the 10,076 people who died in drunk driving crashes that year, 68 percent were in crashes in which at least one driver in the crash had a blood alcohol content of .15 or higher – nearly twice the legal limit.

ODOT will post ‘Drive Sober’ messages on freeway signs over the holiday weekend.

Overall, Ohio has recorded 730 traffic deaths this year, up 19 percent from the same period last year.

Although work is suspended in most construction zones over the holiday weekend, motorists should plan alternate routes or allow additional travel time to avoid work zone congestion, delays or more serious highway incidents. Up-to-date traffic information can be found 24 hours a day at www.OhGo.com.