COLUMBUS – The Ohio State Highway Patrol will be highly visible and cracking down on impaired drivers during the Fourth of July holiday reporting period, which begins at midnight on Thursday, July 3 and will run through 11:59 p.m. on Sunday, July 6.

The Patrol’s zero-tolerance policy is part of the national Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over enforcement campaign aimed at removing impaired drivers from the nation’s roadways.

“Fourth of July celebrations bring Ohioans together to celebrate the founding of our country,” said Governor Mike DeWine. “I encourage everyone to celebrate responsibly to keep the holiday safe and enjoyable for all.”

Many Fourth of July celebrations involve alcohol, which increases the possibility of impaired driving. Therefore, the Patrol urges Ohioans to designate a sober driver, if they plan to drink.

During last year’s Fourth of July reporting period, a total of 16 fatal crashes killed 18 people; of those, eight crashes and eight fatalities involved alcohol and/or drugs. Also, seven of the fatalities involved individuals not wearing safety belts.

Last year’s Fourth of July reporting period included the fatalities of seven motorcyclists, two pedestrians and two moped/motorized bicyclists. Ohio state troopers made 441 impaired driving arrests during that period.

“Protecting those who travel Ohio’s roads during the Fourth of July holiday, and throughout the year, is at the heart of the mission of the Ohio State Highway Patrol,” said Colonel Charles A. Jones, Patrol superintendent. “Impaired driving remains a leading cause of preventable crashes and loss of life. Our troopers are committed to addressing this issue through increased enforcement and public awareness to keep Ohio’s roadways safe.”

When it comes to impaired driving, alcohol impairment remains a prevalent issue on Ohio’s roadways. In fact, while overall fatal crashes went down 6% from 2023 to 2024, alcohol-impaired driving in fatal crashes increased 13%. Last year, troopers made 14,635 impaired driving arrests. This included 1,375 marijuana impaired arrests and 2,497 drug-impaired driving arrests for a drug other than marijuana.

Motorists are urged to buckle up, follow all traffic laws and safely call #677 to report impaired drivers, drug activity or stranded motorists.

Michelle Fay