CINCINNATI — According to the Ohio State Highway Patrol, more than 840 lives have been lost due to pedestrian-related crashes since 2017.

Now, agencies around the state have launched a special enforcement operation to make sure people are safe on the roadways.  

What You Need To Know

  • Since 2017, there have been more than 14,000 pedestrian-related crashes in Ohio, according to OSHP

  • Data also shows that Franklin county, Hamilton county and Cuyahoga Counties make up 52 percent of the pedestrian safety crashes in Ohio

  • OSHP Sgt. Ryan Purpura says the department has made 7,000+ arrests for distracted driving violations and 12,000+ for OVI 

  • There have been 71 fewer fatality crashes across Ohio this year than last year, per the OSHP

“It’s gotten out of hand — pedestrian safety and so forth and police agencies need to be stepping up,” said Hamilton County Sheriff Charmaine McGuffey. 

Since 2017, there have been more than 14,000 pedestrian-related crashes in Ohio, according to OSP. McGuffey said she believes a lot of it has to do with distracted driving and speeding.

“We’re seeing people that are blowing through a stop sign, they’re speeding on residential streets and things like that are a concern,” she said. 

Data also shows that Franklin County, Hamilton County and Cuyahoga Counties make up 52 percent of the pedestrian safety crashes in Ohio.

McGuffey said a few months ago her department started an initiative to crack down on reckless driving. The Cincinnati Police Department is also on board with its law enforcement safety blitz this week. 

“We want your eyes on the road,” McGuffey said. “We want preventative measures, and we want to remind people that we do have safety and traffic laws in this county.”

But the Cincinnati Police Department and the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office aren’t the only ones seeing issues on the roads. Impaired and distracted driving are just some of the issues that the Ohio State Highway Patrol has been dealing with. 

“Those probably are the most egregious things that you can do behind the wheel that puts yourself in jeopardy and putting other people in jeopardy on the roadways,” said OSHP Sgt. Ryan Purpura. 

Purpura said so far this year the department has made more than 7,000 arrests for distracted driving violations and more than 12,000 for OVI. But as far as crashes go, he said there have been 71 fewer fatality crashes this year than last year. 

“I think that means that people are listening to what we’re saying about traffic safety and taking responsibility for the most part,” he said. 

It’s a team effort across the state to make sure pedestrians and motorists are safe. And McGuffey said she’s proud of this effort. 

“Certainly happy that Cincinnati Police Department has decided to step up to it,” she said. “It’s great. I applaud them for that.”