The Fourth of July holiday lands in the middle of the “100 Deadliest Days of Summer” when fatal crashes spike, particularly among teen drivers and motorcyclists.
FAIRFIELD COUNTY, Ohio — As millions of Americans hit the road for the Fourth of July holiday, Ohio law enforcement officials are stepping up patrols to keep drivers safe during what is expected to be one of the busiest travel weekends of the year.
The American Automobile Association predicts nearly 60 million Americans will be traveling by car this holiday, a potential record. In response, the Ohio State Highway Patrol is launching increased enforcement efforts to prevent crashes and save lives.
“Yes, the Ohio State Highway Patrol is gonna be out full force for the July 4th holiday,” said Sgt. Brice Nihiser with OSHP. “You’re going to see troopers on the road. Make sure you’re driving sober. Make sure that you’re buckled up. Make sure you’re not driving distracted because we’re going to be out, and we’re going to be looking for those violations.”
The Fourth of July holiday lands in the middle of what safety officials call the “100 Deadliest Days of Summer” — the period between Memorial Day and Labor Day when fatal crashes spike, particularly among teen drivers and motorcyclists.
“You may see a trooper in the crossover and think, ‘Oh no, he’s just going to get me for speed,’” Nihiser said. “That’s not why we’re out there. We’re out there to protect you, protect everyone else and make sure everybody gets to those celebrations and gets home to their families on such a busy holiday.”
According to OSHP, there were 65,035 crashes in Ohio during the 100 Deadliest Days last summer. Of those, 393 people were killed.
The leading causes of fatal crashes remain impaired driving and speeding.
“We know that driving sober is the safest way for you and everyone else to get home,” Nihiser said. “We also want to make sure you’re going the appropriate speed on our roadways. Going too fast is going to cause you to have less reaction time. It’s not going to give you enough time to stop.”
Despite the dangers, troopers reported a positive trend in 2023 — about 15% fewer fatal crashes occurred compared to the year prior. Still, law enforcement officials say they’re working toward zero fatalities.
“We don’t want there to be any fatal crashes,” Nihiser said. “It’s something that tears apart families, communities. At the end of the day, we’re trying to drive those fatal crashes to zero.”
OSHP also reminds parents to talk to their teens before they hit the road this weekend. About 30% of all crashes in Ohio involve drivers 24 years old and younger.
