COLUMBUS – The Ohio State Highway Patrol is reporting nine fatal crashes resulting in nine fatalities on Ohio’s roadways during the 2025-2026 New Year’s holiday, according to provisional statistics. The five-day reporting period began at midnight on Wednesday, December 31, 2025, and ran through 11:59 p.m. on Sunday, January 4, 2025.
Of the nine fatalities, at least one occurred when a safety belt was available but not used. During the reporting period, troopers made 4,470 traffic enforcement contacts, including 238 OVI arrests, 297 distracted driving, and 469 safety belt citations. Franklin County had the most incidents among all counties, with 464, followed by Lorain, Mahoning, and Medina counties.
The public is encouraged to continue using #677 to report dangerous or impaired drivers, as well as drug activity. A statistical analysis of the Patrol’s enforcement activity over the holiday is available HERE [PNG, 477.87 KB].
COLUMBUS, OHIO, Sept. 3, 2024 – The Ohio State Highway Patrol is reporting 15 people lost their lives in 15 traffic crashes during the Labor Day reporting period, which began Friday, August 30 at midnight and ended Monday, September 2 at 11:59 p.m. In those fatalities in which safety belts were available, seven were unbelted. Ohio’s safety belt law remains a secondary violation; however, troopers continued to have zero tolerance during the holiday reporting period when motorists were stopped for other violations and were found not wearing their safety belt. Throughout the reporting period, troopers issued more than 2,000 safety belt and child safety seat citations.
Additionally, six of the fatal crashes were OVI-related. Troopers also made 378 arrests for impaired driving and 50 for drug-related charges. The Patrol responded to 519 crashes and made 25,674 traffic contacts in total. Troopers also issued 930 citations for distracted driving and provided assistance to 1,829 motorists. A statewide breakdown of enforcement and crashes during the Labor Day reporting period can be found here [PDF] Accessible View.
Motorists are encouraged to call #677 to report impaired drivers or drug activity.
COLUMBUS, OH, July 7, 2021 – The Ohio State Highway Patrol is reporting 16 people lost their lives in 15 traffic crashes during the July Fourth reporting period, which began Friday, July 2, and ended Monday, July 5. Impairment was determined to be a factor in at least five of those crashes.
Troopers made 536 arrests for impaired driving and 368 for drug-related charges. The Patrol responded to 534 crashes and made more than 40,000 traffic contacts in total, which included providing assistance to more than 2,761 motorists.
During last year’s Fourth of July reporting period, which was also from July 2 through 5, a total of 24 fatal crashes killed 25 people. Of those, 17 crashes and 18 fatalities involved alcohol and/or drugs.
COLUMBUS, OH, May 24, 2021 – The Ohio State Highway Patrol will be joining forces with law enforcement throughout the country to focus on safety belt enforcement and crash reduction during the Operation CARE All-American Buckle Up. The initiative will begin on Monday, May 24 at 12:01 a.m. and will continue through Monday, May 31 at 11:59 p.m.
In addition to the All-American Buckle Up, law enforcement will encourage drivers to Click-it-or-Ticket. The campaign is used to help law enforcement encourage drivers to buckle up in an effort to save lives and reduce crashes. In Ohio, the three-year average of fatalities has increased by 22 percent. Year-to-date from 2018 through 2021, Ohio is averaging 342 traffic fatalities.
“It’s plain and simple – safety belts save lives,” said Colonel Richard S. Fambro. “Properly wearing a safety belt increases a person’s chance of surviving a crash.”
COLUMBUS, OH, Jan. 4, 2021 — The Ohio State Highway Patrol is reporting 10 deaths on Ohio’s roadways during the 2020-2021 New Year’s holiday according to provisional statistics. Two fatalities were the result of not wearing a safety belt when available, four were OVI-related and five were pedestrians. The four-day reporting period began at midnight Thursday, December 31, 2020 and ran through 11:59 p.m. on January 3, 2021. This is higher than the two-day reporting period last year, when four fatalities were reported.
Troopers made 3,979 traffic enforcement contacts; including 303 OVI arrests, 115 distracted driving and 478 safety belt citations.
