Law enforcement departments around Logan County will be stepping up patrols this week and throughout the Memorial Day holiday weekend to unite with public safety efforts around the country for Click It or Ticket enforcement.
Several local departments joined together Tuesday morning at Old Field Beach to kick off the high visibility effort, offering area motorists extra reminders to wear their seat belts and practice other safe driving habits while traveling to family get-togethers, graduations, parades and other activities during the start of the summer season.
Ohio State Highway Patrol Trooper Sgt. Tom Gerber from the Marysville Post said considering the number of previous health restrictions that will soon be lifted by the state, he expects this to be an even busier time than usual on area roadways.
“We’re expecting Memorial Day weekend to be very busy, with COVID-19 restrictions coming off,” Sgt. Tom Gerber said. “We’re already seeing an increase in traffic on the roadways in recent weeks.
“It’s been a little over a year now that we’ve had the health restrictions in place, so now people are really wanting to be out and about this Memorial Day weekend. We want them to be safe while having fun with their friends and family.”
Sgt. Ryan Brown from the Logan County Sheriff’s Office encouraged drivers and passengers alike to continue buckling up every time they head out.
“With the nice weather we’ve had lately and the busy activities coming up over the weekend, we’re encouraging everyone to continue wearing their seat belts,” he said. “Studies have shown that seat belt usage greatly increases your safety and lessens your changes of injury in a motor vehicle crash.”
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimates that 15,000 lives were saved in 2017 by seat belt use in crashes.
The organization estimates also reports that between 2006 and 2020, seat belt use by motor vehicle occupants increased by 9 percent to a total of 90 percent of occupants reporting using their seat belts in 2020.
Children whose parents or caregivers buckle up are much more likely learn by example and buckle up themselves, the NHTSA reports.
Both Sgt. Brown and Sgt. Gerber said their agencies and other law enforcement in the county will be working overtime hours on the Click It or Ticket enforcement. They also will be looking out for other dangerous driving habits, such as drunk driving, speeding, distracted driving and reckless operation.
“With all of the fun activities over the holiday weekend, we’re urging everyone to make sure to designate a driver if you’re going to be drinking,” Sgt. Brown said.