OSHP Explains New Work Zone Safety Initiative

ZANESVILLE, OH – Ohio Governor Mike DeWine, joined by the Ohio State Highway Patrol and the Ohio Department of Transportation, has announced a new initiative designed to reduce crashes in work zones.

This effort will see an increased deployment of troopers, including motorcycle units, to closely monitor work zones. The initiative also utilizes OSHP’s Aviation Unit, which will conduct aerial surveillance to identify and respond to dangerous driving behaviors. Troopers will target violations that commonly lead to crashes, such as speeding, impaired driving, distracted driving, and reckless driving in work zones.

“It will include more troopers working the zone. We’ve always considered this a top priority for Zanesville. We have as many as 40 or 50 thousand vehicles through this area every day. In addition, we’ll be utilizing our aviation unit which will mean we will have planes in the air checking folks for speed and other crash causing violations through the construction zone,” Sgt. Jeffrey Jirles from the Zanesville Post State Highway Patrol said.

Since 2019, Ohio has recorded nearly 26,000 work zone crashes, resulting in over 9,000 injuries. Tragically, 99 people have lost their lives in these crashes, including nine road workers.

“Last year, there were 56 incidents around the state. This year, we’re only six months into the year and we’re already at 46 incidents in traffic zones around the state,” Sgt. Jirles said.

Currently, there are more than 500 active road construction zones across Ohio. The highway patrol and ODOT are working together to ensure that each work zone experiences increased enforcement, with Interstate 70 in Muskingum County Identified as one of the top priority enforcement zones.