The Ohio State Highway Patrol says this year’s New Year’s holiday was safer than last year with four deaths in traffic accidents compared to 12 last year. However, this year there was a shorter reporting period of two days from Tuesday, December 31 through the end of January 1. Last year the reporting period was four days. That’s down from the Christmas reporting period when 12 people were killed in eight accidents.
Two of the deaths were the result of not wearing a seat belt and one was tied to operating a vehicle under the influence. The two days were busy for troopers Officers made 2,196 traffic stops. They arrested 121 drivers for OVI and issued 279 tickets for safety belt violations. Additionally, there were 48 tickets given for distracted driving.
So far this year, OSP has investigated 20 crashes in Scioto County, up from 12 during this same period in 2019. Troopers have also issued 69 warning, made three OVI arrests, and issued two seat belt tickets.
