Mahoning Valley - The Ohio State Highway Patrol (OSP) and Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) are making efforts to bring awareness and limit impaired driving during the holiday season.

The month of December marks Impaired Driving Prevention Month.

Impaired driving-related crashes account for 54% of all fatal crashes on Ohio roadways since 2019. In the same period, 44,000 have been injured in OVI-related accidents.

"Telling families that your loved one won't be coming home is one of the most difficult duties our troopers face, especially during the holiday season," says Ohio State Highway Patrol Superintendent Colonel Charles Jones.

Nationally, drunk driving deaths have risen by 33%.  According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), 1,210 of the 4,749 impaired driving fatalities to occur between 2018-2022 were alcohol-related.

Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD), a nonprofit organization, created a list of safety tips during the holidays and Impaired Driving Prevention Month.

  • Plan ahead and never drive impaired
  • Be a responsible host
  • If you are a sober designated driver, be vigilant
  • Talk to your kids about underage drinking
  • Report impaired drivers immediately

The HALT Drunk Driving Act was passed in 2021 and requires all new vehicles to incorporate anti-drunk driving technology in all new cars.

The U.S. Department of Transportation is still working on the final recommendation on mandatory safety standards for this technology. Companies have already been developing anti-drunk driving technology.

The Driver Alcohol Detection System for Safety (DADSS) has been developing and making available a breath sensor in cars to prevent drunk individuals from operating a motor vehicle.

State troopers have issued more than 101,000 OVI citations since 2019, with almost a quarter of those citations involving a driver impaired by one or more drugs.

Patrol encourages Ohioans to safely call #667 to report reckless or impaired drivers and drug use on roadways.

You can see a map of OVI-related crashes and citations by clicking here.