State releases holiday-weekend traffic statistics; 15 die in crashes

Fifteen people were killed on Ohio roads over Memorial Day weekend — a number that’s been consistent the last three years running, the Ohio Highway Patrol reports.

In a May 29 news release, the agency cited provisional statistics that covered May 25-28, stating that two of the weekend’s fatal crashes involved impaired drivers. Two others involved occupants of motor vehicles not wearing their seat belts.

“We take enforcing traffic laws seriously, and troopers were highly visible this weekend to encourage safety,” writes Patrol Superintendent Col. Paul A. Pride in the news release. “We thank everyone who slowed down, buckled up and designated sober drivers this weekend. We ask that you do the same every time you get behind the wheel.”

Geauga County Sheriff Scott Hildenbrand echoed Pride’s sentiments and reinforced the fact that staying aware, cautious, strapped in and sober behind the wheel isn’t just a holiday-weekend thing. All these things need to happen every time anyone gets behind the wheel, on the saddle or takes to the road through any means.

“Sure. There’s a heightened awareness during the holidays,” Hildenbrand said. “We have increased patrols. There are articles in the paper about it and we try to make people aware around these times. But it’s during the in-between times, too, that people can get into the same kinds of situations out on the road.”

He said that warning goes for getting behind the wheel impaired, whether it’s a holiday weekend, a regular weekend or a week day, no matter what the season or occasion.

“I think that you should be cautious all year ‘round,” the sheriff said. “It’s not just for during the holidays. Make sure you’re not drinking and driving. Make sure you’re paying attention for motorcycles and, as long as people are alert and cautious and look twice, we tend not to have as many (roadway) fatalities.”

Lake County Sheriff’s Lt. Jeff Sherwood agreed.

“Our message to the public is that you have to stay vigilant. You have to be alert and wear your seat belt, no matter what time of year it is,” Sherwood said. “Just because it’s not a holiday doesn’t mean it doesn’t happen, especially when it comes to driving impaired.”

He said his agency sees folks driving impaired seven days a week, 365 days a year and sometimes there’s no apparent rhyme or reason as to why.

“You can get a holiday weekend, like the one we just had, and there’s really not much going on,” the lieutenant said. “But you can also get a Wednesday night in the middle of February and have multiple DUI arrests.”

Sherwood said with the amount of attention and publicity spent on impaired-driving deterrence, there’s no excuse for a motorist to be behind the wheel while under the influence.

“There really is no excuse at this point,” he said. “There are designated drivers. There’s Uber. There are taxis. And, let me tell you, paying for a taxi is a whole lot cheaper than what it costs to get charged with operating a vehicle while intoxicated. I mean, seriously. Think about it: How much does an Uber cost to get from point A to point B, compared to what it would cost a person to get a DUI?”