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WARREN -- Law enforcement hosted a Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over campaign kickoff Friday at the Trumbull County Emergency Management Agency.
The campaign will continue through Sept. 4.
"The Ohio State Highway Patrol would like to thank Trumbull County Safe Communities, the Ohio Traffic Safety Office and the Trumbull County Emergency Management Agency for partnering with us during this year's Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over campaign," Sgt. Timothy Grimm of the Ohio State Highway Patrol said.
Grimm said that throughout this campaign, police will be using strict traffic regulation enforcement, including OVI checkpoints.
"There's going to be extra patrols, saturation patrols, not only during a checkpoint but also throughout the entire campaign," Grimm said. "We're partnering with local agencies to bring awareness to different townships throughout the county and the overall goal is to reduce traffic fatalities."
Trumbull Safe Communities coordinator Kevin Kuriatnyk said the increase in enforcement is funded by the Traffic Safety Office in Columbus, which provided a $55,000 traffic safety education grant.
According to Grimm, some ways to drive responsibly are to choose a sober designated driver prior to a party, not let someone drunk behind the wheel and get them a sober ride home.
If you drink, call an Uber, taxi or sober friend; always wear your seatbelt to stay safe from impaired drivers; and report to police any impaired drivers you see.
"Since 2018, The Ohio State Highway Patrol has made over 100,000 OVI arrests," he said. "Nearly 1 in 4 were suspected to involve marijuana or other drug impairment."
Trumbull County crash stats
In 2023 there were 121 alcohol-related crashes.
• 54 involved property damage.
• 14 involved possible injuries.
• 33 involved minor injuries.
• 12 involved serious injuries.
• 8 involved fatal injuries.
In 2023 there were 34 drug-related crashes.
• 13 involved property damage.
• 4 involved possible injuries.
• 8 involved minor injuries.
• 6 involved minor injuries.
• 3 involved fatal injuries.
In 2023 there were 17 alcohol- and drug-related crashes.
• 5 involved property damage.
• 1 involved a possible injury.
• 6 involved minor injuries.
• 2 involved serious injuries.
• 3 involved fatal injuries.
Source: Ohio State Highway Patrol