COLUMBUS, OH - Law enforcement officers at selected state parks will again encourage heightened roadway safety this summer, according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR).
Whats Holding You Back? Click It or Ticket is the theme for this year's observance, part of a statewide effort to step up traffic safety enforcement between May 19 and June 1.
Since our state parks are such popular destinations, it makes sense that we are part of this statewide effort and increase safety on our state park roadways, said Dan West, chief of Ohio State Parks.
A grant of more than $65,000 from the Ohio Department of Public Safety will help state park officers increase their patrol efforts and raise public awareness of state safety laws, especially those involving seat belt use and the restraint of child passengers. The overall goals of the statewide program are to increase seat belt usage and save lives.
A survey conducted by the Governor's Highway Safety Office shows last year's campaign was successful in raising seat belt usage to an all-time high of 70.3 percent across the state.
In addition to patrols on the Memorial Day and Labor Day holiday weekends, two unstaffed speed-alert trailers will be used at several locations to remind motorists to watch their speeds in areas where pedestrians and bicyclists may be sharing park roads.
The following Ohio State Parks are participating: Alum Creek in Delaware County, Buck Creek in Clark County, Caesar Creek in Warren and Clinton counties, Cleveland Lakefront in Cuyahoga County, East Fork in Clermont County, Geneva in Ashtabula County, Hueston Woods in Preble and Butler counties, Lake Milton in Mahoning County, Maumee Bay in Lucas County, Mohican in Ashland County, Mosquito Lake in Trumbull County, Portage Lakes in Summit County, Pymatuning in Ashtabula County, and West Branch in Portage County.