AKRON, Ohio — In a Wednesday press release, the Ohio State Highway Patrol announced the continued effort to target speeding and aggressive drivers in active work zones.
On Tuesday, April 4, the highway patrol conducted an "enforcement initiative" on a stretch of Interstate 77 between I-277 and Arlington Road. In two and a half hours, troopers conducted 32 traffic stops where drivers were all driving 20+ mph over the speed limit.
“Excessive speed and aggressive driving have been key factors in many of the crashes along this construction area,” said Summit County Sheriff Kandy Fatheree. “We are partnering with the Ohio State Highway Patrol to save lives by targeting those who are placing others in danger.”
According to highway patrol data, there have been 28,688 crashes in Ohio work zones since 2018. 91 of those crashes were fatal resulting in 100 deaths.
“The patrol is dedicated to using every available resource to make zones safer for everyone who works on or uses our roadways,” said Lieutenant Todd Belcher, Cleveland District Licensing and Commercial Standards commander. “Motorists can do their part to keep everyone safe by not being distracted, monitoring their speeds and moving over or slowing down.”
40,600 citations were issued in the timeframe listed above with 40% of those citations being issued for speeding violations of 20+ mph.
Editor's Note: The video above is from 3News' previous coverage of the Ohio State Highway Patrol's safety initiatives.