Highway Patrol Cracking Down On Distracted Driving In Cleveland

BROOK PARK, OH — The Ohio State Highway Patrol will be cracking down on distracted driving over the next two weeks. The Cleveland Post's "Distraction Free December" initiative will include educational events and stricter enforcement on interstates 90, 271, 77 480 and 71.

“Education, along with traffic enforcement, will aid in our goal of keeping the public focused on driving when behind the wheel,” said Lieutenant Robert Gable, Cleveland post commander.

Troopers will take part in speaking events at schools, universities and organizations around Cuyahoga County. At the same time, the patrol will step up enforcement of distracted driving laws on major Ohio highways and on state Route 176.

While the Highway Patrol will primarily focus on distracted driving, troopers will also have a zero-tolerance policy for cars that fail to move over and slow down for disabled cars, drivers who don't use their seat belts and drivers who hit the road impaired.

Fatal car crashes, related to impaired driving, are up in Ohio in 2019, the Highway Patrol said. Last year, Cuyahoga County had the second most impaired driving crashes in the state, behind only Franklin County.