As part of the Ohio State Highway Patrol’s mantra – Trooper Shield – and their ongoing effort to contribute to a safer Ohio, troopers have had an increased focus on impaired driving enforcement and they say these efforts are paying off. In 2012, Patrol OVI arrests increased three percent while OVI-related crashes decreased by 14 percent.
Throughout 2012 troopers made 24,520 OVI arrests statewide. Of these, nearly one in four – 23 percent – included a speed violation and 17 percent included a violation for driving without a valid driver license.
In addition, there were 12,168 OVI-related crashes on Ohio roadways, killing 431 and injuring 7,299. Impaired drivers were responsible for 40 percent of the fatal crashes in 2012.
Marion County saw a large number of arrests compared to surrounding counties with 462. In fact, there were more local arrests than even in Richland County which had 441.
Below are the numbers for the counties surrounding Marion.
- Crawford – 74
- Delaware – 316
- Hardin – 26
- Morrow – 232
- Union – 83
- Wyandot – 53
“We can’t fight the battle against impaired driving on our own – We need your commitment to make our roads safe,” said Colonel John Born, Patrol superintendent. “You can contribute to a safer Ohio by actively influencing friends and family to make safe, responsible decisions – like planning ahead to designate a driver and insisting that everyone in the vehicle is buckled up.”
The public is encouraged to call #677 to report impaired drivers, drug activity or stranded motorists.
To view a copy of the entire statistical recap, click here.
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