Ohio Highway Patrol launches safety corridor along U.S. 20 in Sandusky County
FREMONT — The Ohio Highway Patrol, in partnership with the Ohio Department of Transportation, launched a safety corridor on U.S. Route 20 in Sandusky County.
Through October 2024, U.S. 20 between the Wood County and Seneca County lines will be designated as a safety corridor, according to a news release from the patrol and ODOT. Motorists will see an increased presence of troopers and new signage within this area in an effort to reduce speed and distracted driving-related crashes.
From 2018 to 2022, there were 152 speed-related crashes on U.S. 20 in Sandusky County, according to the news release. Two resulted in fatalities and 157 resulted in injuries. In addition, 61 crashes were distracted-related and 26 of those resulted in injuries.
“The purpose of establishing this safety corridor is to bring further awareness and education to the problem of speeding and distracted driving,” Lt. Angel R. Burgos, Fremont post commander, said in the news release. “Crashes involving speeding and distracted driving are preventable. Choosing to drive above the speed limit or distracted could result in the loss of your life or the person next to you on the roadway.”
Defining distracted driving
Distracted driving is any non-driving activity with the potential to distract a person from the primary task of driving and increase the risk of crashing. Distractions can be visual, taking eyes off the road; manual, taking hands off the wheel; or cognitive, taking the mind off driving.
Texting while driving is an example that results in all three types of distraction, according to the news release. Sending or receiving a text message takes a driver’s eyes off the road for an average of 4.6 seconds, the equivalent of driving the length of an entire football field when traveling at 55 mph.
"Safety corridor signage has been erected in the corridor to remind motorists to eliminate distractions behind the wheel and to encourage motorists to obey the speed limit,” Pat McColley, ODOT District 2 deputy director, aid in the news release. “Similar safety corridors have been established across the state and have been found to be effective.”
With Ohio’s new distracted driving law in effect, law enforcement officers can pull over motorists if they witness them illegally using an electronic communications device to manually input text, dial a phone number, or hold or physically support that device with any part of the person’s body while driving. Some exceptions exist, and emergency calls will be permitted in all circumstances.
In early October, officers will have the authority to issue citations. Until then if drivers are stopped, officers will warn drivers and educate them on the dangers of distracted driving.
Resources for motorists regarding the new law can be found at PhonesDown.Ohio.gov. People can call #677 to report dangerous or impaired drivers, as well as drug activity.
This article originally appeared on Fremont News-Messenger: Patrol launches safety corridor along U.S. 20 in Sandusky County
