Ohio State Highway Patrol urges drivers to slow down on holiday weekend
By Staff Lieutenant Richard Reeder
Turnpike Liaison
With summer travel season ending soon and the Labor Day weekend coming up, we're reminding drivers of the importance of adhering to posted speed limits.
Speeding remains a leading cause of crashes, injuries and fatalities on Ohio roadways, and slowing down is a simple yet impactful action every driver can take to promote safety for themselves and others.
“Speed-related crashes are preventable, and slowing down could save your life or the life of a loved one,” said Governor Mike DeWine. “Speed limits are there for everyone’s safety, and I encourage all drivers to remain fully attentive to the road and adhere to posted speed limits.”
Posted speed limits are not suggestions, they are carefully determined based on a variety of factors including road design, traffic volume and surrounding environment.
There are several reasons why it is important to slow down and adhere to posted speed limits. Those reasons include:
• Increased reaction time – Slower speeds provide more time to perceive and react to hazards, pedestrians or unexpected road conditions.
• Reduced stopping distance – The faster you go, the longer it takes to bring your vehicle to a complete stop.
• Minimized crash severity – In the event of a collision, the forces involved are significantly greater at higher speeds, leading to more severity of injuries and fatalities.
• Protecting roadside workers and emergency responders – Adhering to “Move Over” laws and slowing down in work zones and near emergency vehicles is crucial for the safety of those working to keep our roads safe.
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"Labor" day??? Ha!
Yet again, I'll be laboring on the job for another "Labor Day" weekend. Such a wasteful and corrupt holiday. Let us drop the Presidents Day, Labor Day, and Columbus Day "holidays." (And possibly combine the MLK and Juneteenth recognition???) And replace them with Resurrection Day (for only the true believers), 9/11 Patriots' Day (for American citizens only), and American Indian Day (that should quell the long knives bent on more days off, rather than working and producing.) And January 1st has zero significance in the grand scheme of things... Play your foos ball, but It's just another 1st of the month... (but I guess the "first of the month" is a high-holy day to too many people in our Country...)