CLEVELAND — Drivers on Interstate 90 in Cuyahoga County better get ready to buckle up.
Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine announced Tuesday that the stretch of I-90 between East 55th and East 260th has been designated as the state's first "Speed and Seat Belt Safety Corridor." This means an increased number of state troopers and police officers will be monitoring the road for offenders, with the Ohio State Highway Patrol as well as the Cleveland, Euclid, and Bratenahl police departments all pitching in to help.
"Officers and troopers are constantly encountering drivers on this section of I-90 who are driving recklessly with no care for their own safety or the safety of others," DeWine said in a statement. "We're giving this stretch of I-90 extra attention because many of the fatal and severe-injury crashes here could have been prevented with lower speeds and seat belts."
According to the governor's office, Cuyahoga County leads Ohio in both speed-related and unbelted car crashes. Additionally, since 2021, roughly a third of all wrecks on I-90 between East 55th and East 260th Streets have involved motorists who were not wearing seat belts.
"The frequency and severity of crashes occurring in Cuyahoga County, many of which are preventable, necessitated a strategic approach to making this corridor safer," OSHP Superintendent Colonel Charles A. Jones said. "I'm appreciative for the collaboration to make speed reduction and seat belt usage on I-90 a priority."
Drivers and front-seat passengers are required by Ohio law to wear seatbelt, which according the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration can reduce crash fatalities by up to 45%. The OSHP states that 62% of all fatal crashes in the state since 2021 have involved the death of at least one person who wasn't wearing a seat belt.
"It's not about issuing tickets, it's about saving lives," DeWine added. "By buckling up, you are much more likely to survive a car crash or walk away with minor injuries."
The Ohio Department of Transportation will also be placing a number of new signs along the corridor to warn drivers of the increased enforcement measures.