Highway Patrol Wheels Out New Initiatives for Safety

MUSKINGUM COUNTY, Ohio-The Muskingum County Highway Patrol is beginning two new safety initiatives this week. 

The first initiative is to raise awareness of construction zone safety. Trooper Brice nihiser says that 3,100 traffic accidents have happened in Ohio construction zones this year, the highway patrol is looking to curb that. 

“The highway patrol is getting ready to use our aviation section to assist troopers on the ground and make work zones safer… Our aviation team will be up in the air, they’ll be looking for violations like speed, following too closely or distracted driving and then guiding our ground troopers to those drivers so that we can make those citations and reach the public that way.”

According to Ohio law any citation fines and punishments will be doubled when committed in an active work zone. Nihiser also mentioned that distracted driving week starts this Thursday, October 1st. 

“Distracted driving is going to be a continued focus for the highway patrol going into October. WE remind drivers to make sure they’re keeping their full attention on the road… We just remind all motorists to keep their eyes and their attention on the roadways. Make sure that you’re focusing on driving and nothing else.”

Distracted driving is a misdemeanor punishable with a $100 fine.