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FREMONT – The Ohio State Highway Patrol, in partnership with the Ohio Department of Transportation, has launched a safety corridor on U.S. 20 in Sandusky County.
Through October 2024, U.S. 20 between the Wood and Seneca County lines is being designated as a safety corridor. Motorists will see an increased presence of troopers and new signage within this area in an effort to reduce speed and distracted driving-related crashes.
From 2018 through 2022 on U.S. 20 in Sandusky County, there were 152 speed-related crashes, two resulted in fatalities and 157 resulted in injuries. In addition, 61 crashes were distracted-related and 26 of those resulted in injuries.
“The purpose of establishing this safety corridor is to bring further awareness and education to the problem of speeding and distracted driving,” said Lt. Angel Burgos, Fremont Post commander. “Crashes involving speeding and distracted driving are preventable. Choosing to drive above the speed limit or distracted could result in the loss of your life or the person next to you on the roadway.”
Distracted driving is any non-driving activity with the potential to distract a person from the primary task of driving and increase the risk of crashing. Distractions can be visual, taking eyes off the road; manual, takinghands off the wheel; or cognitive, taking the mind off driving. Texting while driving is an example that results in all three types of distraction. Sending or receiving a text message takes a driver’s eyes off the road for anaverage of 4.6 seconds, the equivalent of driving the length of an entire football field when traveling at 55 mph.
“Safety corridor signage has been erected in the corridor to remind motorists to eliminate distractions behind thewheel and to encourage motorists to obey the speed limit,” said Pat McColley, ODOT District 2 deputy director. “Similar safety corridors have been established across the state and have been found to be effective.”
With Ohio’s new distracted driving law in effect, law enforcement officers can pull over motorists if they witness them illegally using an electronic communications device to manually input text, dial a phone number, or hold or physically support that device with any part of the person’s body while driving. Some exceptions exist, and emergency calls will be permitted in all circumstances. In early October, officers will have the authority to issue citations.
Until then, if drivers are stopped, officers will warn drivers and educate them on the dangers of distracted driving. Resources for motorists regarding the new law can be found at PhonesDown.Ohio.gov and an educational video can be watched.
The public may call #677 to report dangerous or impaired drivers, as well as drug activity.