The Ohio State Highway Patrol says Labor Day weekend traffic deaths dropped sharply this year, with 12 people killed in 12 fatal crashes during the four-day reporting period.
That is a major improvement from 2025, when the Patrol reported 27 fatal crashes over Labor Day weekend.
This year’s reporting period began at midnight Friday, Sept. 4, and ended at 11:59 p.m. Monday, Sept. 7.
According to preliminary Patrol statistics, at least one of the 12 fatal crashes was OVI-related.
Troopers said they continued enforcement efforts throughout the holiday weekend, making 426 impaired-driving arrests and 70 drug-related arrests.
The Patrol also issued 2,136 safety belt citations.
Of the fatalities where a safety belt was available, one person was not wearing one.
Ohio’s safety belt law is generally a secondary violation, meaning drivers are usually stopped for another violation first. However, troopers said they continued a zero-tolerance approach during the holiday reporting period when motorists were stopped and found not wearing seat belts.
Troopers also responded to 502 crashes, issued 1,525 distracted-driving citations, and helped 1,563 motorists.
The numbers show both good news and a warning.
Fatal crashes were down more than half compared to last year’s Labor Day weekend, but 12 families still lost someone on Ohio roads.
The Patrol is asking drivers to help keep roads safer by reporting dangerous, impaired, or drug-related driving by calling #677.
