COLUMBUS, Ohio — As Ohioan’s gear up to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day this week, law enforcement is gearing up for a massive effort to keep the roads safe. The Ohio Highway Patrol and local law enforcement will be collaborating to remove impaired drivers from the roadways, as part of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s Buzzed Driving is Drunk Driving campaign.
According to statistics, impaired driving has caused a total of 219 crashes, 128 injuries, and 10 fatalities over the last five years on St. Patrick’s Day. Furthermore, the Patrol made 545 OVI arrests on St. Patrick’s Day between 2018 and 2022.
Colonel Charles A. Jones, Patrol superintendent, emphasized the importance of designating a sober driver before celebrating St. Patrick’s Day. He added, “The safety of everyone on our roadways is our top priority. We want everyone to get to and from their destination safely.”
Ohio Investigative Unit agents will also be working to educate permit holders on the consequences of over-serving. For bars and permit holders, over-serving or serving underage customers could lead to costly fines, suspension, or revocation of their liquor permits.
Motorists are also encouraged to dial #677 to report unsafe or impaired drivers. The message is clear: enjoy the festivities but do so responsibly.
