Even with high gas prices, Ohio residents are still expected to travel throughout the state for Memorial Day weekend.
During the Ohio Traffic Safety Summit on Tuesday morning, the Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT), the Ohio State Highway Patrol (OSHP), and the Ohio Traffic Safety Office (OTSO) spoke on the necessary knowledge drivers need to gear up for the busy roads over the weekend.
“We remind people all the time, move over, slow down for any of those roadside workers,” said ODOT Press Secretary Matt Bruning. “If you're not paying attention, you're never going to see the flashing lights, the reflective vests, all of the things you need to be paying attention to.”
The 2025 Memorial Day weekend saw 11 fatal crashes resulting in 12 deaths on Ohio’s roadways. This is almost a 50% decrease from the previous year, which saw 26 individual deaths. This year, officials are hoping that number falls to be even lower.
ODOT crews have been hit 54 times since the start of this year. Construction work zones will be reduced in size for Memorial Day, but drivers should be cautious and aware of intermittent delays. Bruning highlighted the OHGO app, where drivers can plan their routes with real-time information on traffic alerts and work zones from a network of more than 1,300 live cameras.
Sgt. Brice Nihiser, OSHP's public information commander, emphasized the simple things drivers can do to stay safe: buckle up, avoid technology distractions and focus on the road.
Nihiser understands there’s going to be celebrations, but says if residents plan on driving, “Make sure that you're sober. Make sure that your getting behind the wheel in the best state possible. There's nothing more dangerous on the road than someone who's impaired.”
Last weekend, OSHP arrested 158 people for impaired driving, but alternatives are available for certain areas of Ohio.
Emily Davidson, director of the Ohio Traffic Safety Office, announced at the Project Plan Ahead summit that the statewide initiative provides rideshare credits to reduce impaired driving during high-risk holidays and events. Participants can claim up to $15 in free Uber or Lyft ride share credits. Riders are responsible for paying any fares above $15. Rides must pertain to one of the seven participating counties: Butler, Cuyahoga, Franklin, Hamilton, Lucas, Montgomery and Summit.
“Ohio's has a higher rate of impaired driving crashes than the rest of the nation… We're always looking for new ways to try to get the message across,” Davidson said. “I think sometimes you have to lead the horse to water, so to speak, and help people to make the right decision. So, I think by providing these ride share credits, it's just another way to kind of spark a new idea of: ‘oh, maybe I don't have to get behind the wheel.’”
