WOOD COUNTY, Ohio — Before you grab a beer during a Super Bowl party this weekend, the Wood County Sheriff's Office wants to make sure you have a plan before you decide to grab your keys after.
Sheriff Mark Wasylyshyn announced increased patrols will be in place in Wood County starting Sunday for Super Bowl weekend.
Deputies will be paying close attention for violations like driving under the influence, failure to yield and speeding, which the sheriff said are leading factors in fatal crashes.
Data from the Ohio Traffic Safety Office (OTSO) showed that on average in Ohio, impaired driving is the cause of 50% of fatal crashes; 1 in 4 fatal and serious injury crashes are speed-related; and 61% of people killed in crashes were not wearing a seat belt.
"There will be zero tolerance for driving under the influence and seat belt violations," Wasylyshyn said in a news release Wednesday.
The increased patrols are funded by a grant from the OTSO.
The traffic enforcement blitz will begin Sunday and run through Monday in Wood County.
Regardless of the time of year or the cause for celebration, authorities remind drivers to plan ahead with a designated driver or an alternate way home in advance for the safety of yourself and others on the road.
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